Officer James Hurst responded immediately when calls came into the station about a small child wandering the streets alone.
Hurst is an officer in Savannah, Georgia, and although it is his job to protect and serve, he went above and beyond the call of duty.
Concerned citizens saw the little boy wandering around in the cold and were worried about his safety.
They called the police station for help, and Officer Hurst responded.
A photograph that says a thousand words.
Officer Hurst didn’t waste a moment getting that little boy to safety.
He could pick him up and take him to an exam at a nearby hospital.
While at the hospital, the officer was photographed cradling the young boy.
The photo quickly went viral because of the compassion you see on the officer’s face.
He wasn’t obligated to stay with the boy, but he did.
Understandably, the little boy became very scared and nervous during the hospital exam. Hurst was right by his side to comfort him.
He picked up the boy and held him tight.
He felt it was just ‘human instinct to pick him up and comfort him,’ he told KTLA 5 News.
Sometimes an embrace can be healing.
Hurst told KTLA 5 News that the hospital staff was great and looked after the little boy with such care.
However, after the boy cried, the officer grabbed and held him against his chest.
This immediately calmed the little boy.
His fatherly instincts kicked in.
The little boy fell instantly asleep, and the now-famous photo was taken.
The image of Hurst shows the best of humanity, and the world fell in love with it.
A father himself, Hurst says that he just did what felt right.
“As a father to small boys, it was just natural to want to soothe this child…I didn’t expect any of this…it’s been quite overwhelming actually.” – Hurst told WDTN-TV
He doesn’t need any praise.
Officer Hurst told the news outlets that he was doing his job and any other officer would have done the same.
“This job is so much more than just chasing the bad guys. It’s about serving the citizens of the communities that you work in and doing what they need you to do,” Hurst told abc7.com
A lucky little boy.
The toddler was definitely in danger wandering alone on a busy street.
The hospital said he was in good condition considering his ordeal.
One thing is definite- he was a lucky little boy to have Officer Hurst in his corner.
Often all it takes is one caring person to come to a person’s aid.
Yes, it was his job, but it’s evident this was a response from the heart.
Learn more about this story in the heartwarming video below!
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