Zayra Mendoza experienced a truly terrifying moment one night when she was suddenly grabbed and got dragged by a stranger in an attempt to kidnap her.
She was trying hard to fight the man, but she was slowly being pulled by him. Just when she thought she was about to lose her life, a car came driving towards them, scaring the man away and leaving Zayra thanking that person for her safety.
Thanks to the driver, the young mom’s life was spared and she was saved from a man who could’ve possibly ended it. That man is now in police custody.
A chance encounter.
In the security footage obtained from the place of the attempted kidnapping, Zayra can be seen as she tried to free herself away from the man’s grip with all her might. Apparently, the young mom had already realized that someone was following her and did her best to run away. But, the man was quick enough to reach her and that’s when he strongly dragged Zayra in an attempt to kidnap her.
“I thought these were the last moments of my life,” Mendoza said via translator in an interview with ABC News.
Ariel Naylor, on the other hand, was on her way home from work Sunday night. She lives on Middlesex Turnpike in Burlington, a suburb 15 miles northwest of Boston. As the woman was driving by, she instantly spotted the attack and did what her instinct told her to do at that moment.
“I just saw some guy just trying to abduct a girl. I’m on the side of the road. She’s got no shirt on,” Naylor told a 911 dispatcher. “I don’t know where he went. He took off when I slammed on my brake.”
Ariel made all the difference when she chose to stop and help.
There were a lot of vehicles passing by, but only Ariel had the courage to pull her car to where the attack was happening and scared the man by going straight in his direction. He immediately saw the danger and ran for his life.
The alleged kidnapper was caught by police as he was trying to run away. He was placed in custody and was charged with an attempt to commit a crime, assault with intent to commit a felony, indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or older, and assault with intent to rape, according to ABC News.
Ariel was hailed a hero but she refuses to be called so.
Despite people calling her a hero for her brave act, Ariel still commends Zayra for fighting back, and for that, she thinks that Zayra is also a hero on her own because she “made it possible” for Ariel to help her.
“[She knew] to get to the side of the road to somebody who could help her, so she made it possible for me to help her,” Ariel said. “I did what any person should do when you see somebody in trouble,” she added.
Zayra calls Ariel an angel of God.
Through a translator, Zayra has voiced her thankfulness for Ariel’s bravery to stop.
Ariel is glad for what she did and definitely feels a connection with the woman she saved.
“I don’t know her, but I feel a connection with her. That night I held her, and I’d do it again. I’m so happy she’s OK, “Ariel told ABC News. “I will forever cherish our friendship.”
Truly, one split-second decision can make or break someone’s future. In this inspiring story, Ariel, fortunately, chose to do the right thing and saved another woman’s life from danger.
Want to know more about this incredible story? Be sure to watch the video below!
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