Two barbers from East Hartford, Conn., are being called heroes after they saved a young girl from running into traffic. Osvaldo Lugo, owner of Look Sharp Barbershop, and his employee, Rafael Santana, say they were just in the right place at the right time.
The insane moment was captured on surveillance video and posted to Lugo’s Instagram account. It shows Santana and Lugo racing out of their barbershop after spotting a young girl running down the road by herself.
Santana said that he was cutting hair when he saw a small pink reflection whiz by the window. “I said, ‘Yo, there’s a little girl by herself,’” he says. “At the shop, we joke around all day to make the hours go by so I’m glad (my co-workers) believed me,” he said. Santana, a father of four with another baby on the way, said he’s always vigilant, especially in public.
I have to keep my eyes on my kids.”
Rafael Santana rushes after a young girl that he spotted outside his barber shop window. Photo courtesy of Look Sharp Barbershop
The video shows Santana and Lugo chasing after the girl, who was heading toward a busy intersection. Lugo managed to catch up with her at the crosswalk. “You better get her on time,” Lugo said he was thinking as he ran. As the owner of the shop and building, Lugo felt a responsibility to protect the area.
The girl was calling for her mother when Lugo grabbed her. He saw the mother at a bus stop around the corner. Lugo walked the girl back to her mother, who appeared confused, shocked, but grateful. With their clients waiting, Santana and Lugo returned to the barbershop.
East Hartford Mayor Connor Martin awarded Santana and Lugo with hero certificates, and the local police department publicly commended them. A police department Facebook post read, “Heroic Barbers to the Rescue! Today, we want to give a massive shoutout to the quick-thinking and brave duo, Osvaldo Lugo and Rafael Santana of Look Sharp Barbershop.
Their swift action saved a little toddler who had escaped from her mother and started moving towards traffic on Main Street. Thanks to them, a potential tragedy was averted, and a family remains whole. We’re incredibly grateful for these everyday heroes among us!”
Osvaldo Lugo and Rafael Santana are being honored as heroes after the pair chased after a little girl who nearly ran into traffic. Photo courtesy of Look Sharp Barbershop
Santana and Lugo maintain that they are simply dads with lucky timing. “We did this out of love and we’d do it a million times again,” Santana says.
We protect and serve our community at all costs.”
The incident happened around 11:00 a.m. on April 12. Santana noticed the girl walking in the middle of the road. “I looked back and I didn’t see anybody. I didn’t see anyone behind her,” Santana says. He immediately informed Lugo, who dropped his clippers and ran out the door with Santana.
“There’s no time to look. There’s no time to talk about it. This your time to do something about somebody else,” Lugo said. He was was happy they reached the girl in time. “She didn’t know exactly what type of danger she was facing,” Lugo said.
Both men are thankful they acted quickly and prevented a potential tragedy. “It would’ve been sirens, police, ambulance, so thankfully we’re not talking about that situation right now,” Lugo said. “We’re not talking about a tragedy. We’re talking about something good,” Santana added.
The pair said they wouldn’t hesitate to do the same thing again, if it was needed. “We did this out of love and we’d do it a million times again,” Santana said. “We protect and serve our community at all costs.”
