On January 13th 1982, an Air Florida jetliner bound from Washington, D. C. to Tampa crashed into the Potomac River just after takeoff. One woman, Priscilla Tirado, having survived the crash, struggled hopelessly for her life in the icy waters for about half an hour. Too weak and injured to grab the rope thrown down to her from the rescue helicopter, Tirado began to slowly give up and show signs of drowning. Hundreds of drivers, passersby, and rescue workers watched her from the riverbanks and bridge.

Suddenly a man in the crowd, moved by what he saw, stripped off his coat and boots and, in short sleeves, dove into the icy water and swam the 30 feet out to assist her. He succeeded in getting Tirado to the river shore, from where she was subsequently taken to hospital, saving her life.

The man was Lenny Skutnik, who risked his life to save a woman he had never seen and did not know. One moment he was “Mr. Anonymous,” just an ordinary guy. The next moment he was a hero.

What made him do it? Even he doesn’t know the answer. Nevertheless, the moment of crisis brought out the best and deepest convictions in him.

No one hopes for a crisis or tragedy to find out what one is made of. But they are the best revealers of a person’s soul.

If you are going through a really hard time in your life right now, a crisis that never seems to end, a pain that finds no relief — remember that inside you there’s some of Lenny’s stuff. Courage, impetus, the desire to fight for life.

Don’t just watch yourself suffer and fade away in commiseration. Fight. Sure, it would be great if someone came to your rescue. But as this story shows, not many people will risk too much to help you.

Sometimes you have to be your own hero.

And if you have 20 minutes, watch the documentary of the airplane crash:

Part 1: http://youtu.be/m2ww2rCbX94

Part 2: http://youtu.be/ASBb-oMT5EU (Lenny rescues Tirado from 5:14)