“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” – United States Postal Service
Mail carriers are some of the hardest working people. Long days, long hours and as the creed says – no matter rain or snow or heat.
But, after one Massachusetts mail carrier’s heroic actions, it should probably be amended to include rescuing toddlers.
That’s exactly what happened to USPS employee David Moulton during his mail delivery route just last week.
Moulton said saw a 3-year-old boy wandering the streets with no shoes on. He told reporters that at first he thought the child was playing at a nearby park. But as the child began walking toward the busy street, with no adult around, he knew something was wrong.
Salem mailman David Moulton. Photo from YouTube
“I just scooped him up before he got into the street over there,” Moulton. “He’s got no shoes and no jacket on, it’s like, this isn’t right. I’m wearing four layers of clothing you know,” he said.
“He ran past me this way first in the park. At first, I didn’t think anything of it, I thought he was playing with kids or something like that, and then all of a sudden, he zipped by me again, I thought he’s heading to a busy street,” Moulton said.
He was shaking; he was shivering; he was cold.”
While holding the toddler and keeping him safe, Moulton called police. After arriving, officers were able to determine that the boy had wandered out of the Salem Community Child Care center.
The child was taken to a local hospital as a “precaution,” police said. They also called his parents.
Martha Esquivel, the little boy’s mom, said she could barely contain herself when she got to the hospital and saw a pastor, a doctor and police outside her son’s room.
Martha Esquivel and Joel Espaillat. Photo by Boston 25
“When we went into the room, I saw a lot of people there, and I just started crying,” Esquivel said. “I found my son and he started crying… screaming, ‘Mommy, mommy.'”
The parents claim that video footage shows her son being ignored by daycare workers for at least a half-hour while he repeatedly attempted to open the door that led outside, until finally managing to get it open and leave.
Esquivel said she is so very grateful for Moulton’s actions that day. “He was such a nice person to pay attention and call the police,” she said.
He pretty much saved my son’s life.”
Moulton now gets cheers from neighbors when he’s delivering mail. Tuesday. “I have children of my own. I can’t just let him head to the street, stand there and do nothing,” said Moulton. “I’m very glad it ended well. Could have been very bad.”
Police said they have referred the daycare’s case to the district attorney, and the Department of Children and Families. The daycare is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, which is also investigating.
As for Moulton, he doesn’t believe he did anything special.
“They say God’s mysterious. I was just in the right place at the right time,” Moulton said. “I did what I hope any other decent person would do — go and help the little kid.”
Watch below for a look at this heroic postal worker!
