Shea Heights hero finds strength to lift vehicle off injured boy

A scary incident in Shea Heights has a happy ending thanks to one quick-thinking man. 

More than a week ago, a young boy was struck by a four-wheel drive vehicle on one of the town's streets and ended up stuck underneath it. 

That's when local resident Nick Williams came running to help, and actually lifted the vehicle's tire off the child, who he said had been playing on the sidewalk. 

He took a big deep breath and curledup intohis dad like a little spider.- Nick Williams

"[The driver] struck the little fellow, and I bawled out for her to stop, but it was too late," he told CBC News.

"I knew he had to come out of there, and that was it — he just had to come out of there."

Williams was a little emotional when recalling the events of that scary Saturday, but told CBC News that when he got close enough he noticed the boy was hurt and pinned under the tire.

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He managed to find the strength to lift the tire off the child while the boy's father, Mark Sheehan, ran over to help. While the boy was out from under the tire, Williams still had to use a car jack to get him completely clear of the vehicle. 

"I couldn't budge it at first, but then I saw the little fellow ... and the bugger came up then," he said.

"His dad pulled him out and he wasn't moving and I said 'that's not good.' His dad [said], 'It's okay, it's your daddy.' He took a big deep breath and curled up into his dad like a little spider."

The boy was taken to hospital and has since been released.

After making it through the ordeal, the boy took the time to make a card for Williams, thanking the man that is now being hailed as a hero.

Williams said he just did what anyone would have, but hopes the incident will bring attention to the problem of dangerous driving in Shea Heights.

He said while he has no reason to believe the woman who ran over the boy was driving recklessly, he said dangerous driving is an issue in the area.

Williams and others in the neighbourhood have even put up their own signs to try and get people to slow down, but he said so far it isn't working.

He said dangerous drivers have been a major problem there for a while and something needs to be done.

"There's youngsters everywhere here, sometimes there are up to 30 children here playing [in the area]," he said. "There's no speed bumps or signs or anything."