logo
YouTube/CBS New York | flickr.com/Brandon Blahnik
YouTube/CBS New York | flickr.com/Brandon Blahnik

Mailman Sees 2-Year-Old Child Alone on Lawn, Goes into the House and Finds Mom Hunched over a Stroller

Salwa Nadeem
May 17, 2022
12:40 A.M.

A New York mailman made it to the news after saving a woman's life while delivering mails on his usual route. It all started with an unusual sight of a 2-year-old boy standing on the street.

Advertisement

A full-time mailman and a part-time lifesaver, Stephen Garofalo explores multiple neighborhoods every day to put envelopes in the correct mailboxes.

Since he visited the same neighborhoods almost every day, he knew most people living there. His keen observation skills made him save a woman's life while he was passing by her house.

The mailman saved a woman's life. | Source: YouTube/CBS New York

The mailman saved a woman's life. | Source: YouTube/CBS New York

THE KIND MAILMAN

Garofalo knew almost everyone living in Wayne, N.J., because he had delivered mails in the same neighborhood for more than three decades. He confessed:

"I feel like I'm part of this community. Actually, I'm here more than my own community."

Advertisement

In April 2019, the letter carrier added a new achievement to his list when he saw a familiar 2-year-old boy standing outside his house.

Garofalo knew everyone in the neighborhood. | Source: YouTube/CBS New York

Garofalo knew everyone in the neighborhood. | Source: YouTube/CBS New York

THE LITTLE BOY

Garofalo headed towards the 2-year-old boy as soon as he caught his attention. He knew the boy's family and was surprised to see him on the outside unsupervised. He recalled:

"So when I grabbed the child, I said, 'Where's your mother?' and he pointed inside."

He headed to the house to talk to the mother but little did Garofalo know what was waiting for him inside.

He spotted the 2-year-old boy outside alone. | Source: YouTube/CBS New York

He spotted the 2-year-old boy outside alone. | Source: YouTube/CBS New York

Advertisement

HE FOUND THE CHILD'S MOTHER

The mailman did find the boy's mother, Stephanie Wilson, but she wasn't how he expected her to be. He was horrified to see her hunched over a stroller, unconscious.

When a news reporter asked Wilson what would have happened if Garofalo didn't help her, she said things would have been much worse.

Unlike most people in stressful situations, Garofalo remained calm and did what was needed to save the woman. He immediately reached for his phone and dialed 911.

He went inside the woman's house after the child told him she was inside. | Source: YouTube/CBS New York

He went inside the woman's house after the child told him she was inside. | Source: YouTube/CBS New York

THE FIRST RESPONDERS ARRIVED

A few moments after the call, the first responders arrived and revived Wilson. They revealed that she fell unconscious because of a reaction caused by her medications.

Advertisement

Fortunately, they saved the woman, and she regained consciousness in no time. If Garofalo hadn't asked the child about his mother, things would have been much different.

He called the first responders on time. | Source: YouTube/CBS New York

He called the first responders on time. | Source: YouTube/CBS New York

WILSON'S REACTION

When a news reporter asked Wilson what would have happened if Garofalo didn't help her, she said things would have been much worse. She believed the kind mailman had saved her life. She said:

"If it wasn't for him, the EMT wouldn't have gotten there as quickly and I would've been brought to the hospital."

The woman had known Garofalo for a long time and felt he was a kind man. She said he was more like a neighbor because she saw him daily. After the incident, Garofalo regularly enquired about the woman's health to ensure she was doing fine.

Advertisement

HE RECEIVED AN AWARD

The United States Postal Service appreciated Garofalo's efforts by giving him The Life Saving Award. They honored him for saving Wilson's life by taking the right step at the right time.

Garofalo believed everyone should play their part whenever they see something "out of place." He urged people to help each other, even if that meant making a phone call. He said:

"Everybody should keep an eye on everybody else."

Advertisement

ANOTHER MAIL CARRIER SAVED A WOMAN'S LIFE

Like Garofalo, another mail carrier saved a woman's life in New Hampshire after noticing a pile of mail outside a house. Kayla Berridge was curious when she saw mail piling up outside an 80-year-old woman's home.

Since Berridge knew the woman and usually met her on the way while delivering mails, she was alarmed when she hadn't seen her for four days.

After following her gut feeling, she checked on the woman and witnessed something unexpected. The fragile lady was lying on the floor under photo frames.

The mail carrier saved a woman's life. | Source: YouTube/WCVB Channel 5 Boston

The mail carrier saved a woman's life. | Source: YouTube/WCVB Channel 5 Boston

THE POLICE RESCUED HER

Advertisement

Berridge immediately called the police for help. A few moments later, a couple of officers marched inside the woman's bedroom and took her to the hospital.

The doctors examined her and concluded that she had been stuck under the frames for about three days. As a result, she was dehydrated, and her body temperature dropped.

After investigation, the police concluded that the woman might have landed on the floor after she tried to hold the bed for support. They assumed the frames must have fallen on her from the bed.

THIS WASN'T THE FIRST TIME

Berridge had been working as a mail carrier for four years, and this was the first time she had to call the police for help. Previously, she had seen mail piling up outside houses, but the residents never needed help.

As per the police, it wasn't the first time a mail carrier had called them for help. They praised Berridge for saving the woman's life and felt things would have been much worse if she hadn't called them.

Click here to read another story about a woman whose call went unanswered when she dialed 911 after her child stopped breathing.

Advertisement
info
Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories!
By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy
Advertisement
Related posts

Woman Ruins Ex-fiancé's Wedding Party as He Plans to Marry Her Sister

February 07, 2024

My In-Laws Treat Me like a Maid & Made Me Cook for Them While I Was Sick — I Took It up with My Husband

February 29, 2024

My In-Laws Treat Me like a Maid & Made Me Cook for Them While I Was Sick — I Took It up with My Husband

January 31, 2024

I Kicked My 72-Year-Old Mother-in-Law Out of the House at Night

February 28, 2024

Teen Janitor Returns Lost Wallet to Rich Lady, Years Later Inherits Her Company – Story of the Day

March 04, 2024

Medic Arrives at Old Lady's House on Emergency and Is Stunned to See His Photo on Her Wall — Story of the Day

March 06, 2024

Dark-Skinned Dad Demands a DNA Test on Pale Baby as She Didn't Look Like Him & His Sons

February 09, 2024

4 True Stories of Adults Having Conflict with Their Parents

March 05, 2024

4 True Stories of Adults Having Conflict with Their Parents

February 26, 2024

Lady Slammed Me for My Crying Baby at a Grocery Store, She Turned Red When She Heard My Reply

November 29, 2023

My Kind and Beloved Grandma Is Refusing to Meet My Newborn Daughter after She Found Out Her Name

January 31, 2024

Mom Installs Hidden Camera to Check on Husband When She’s at Work, Sees Nothing until Day 4

November 13, 2023

Taxi Drivers Share the Deepest Secrets Overheard in Their Cars during Work

February 20, 2024

Poor Mom of Triplets Never Allows Anyone into Her House, Plumber Arrives There on Emergency Call — Story of the Day

February 19, 2024