By Greg Wickliffe
mlive.com
AUSTIN — K.J. Osborn is known for being one of the up-and-coming wide receivers in the NFL, but now he’ll also be known for something far more incredible.
On Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings wide receiver, with assistance from three other individuals, helped rescue a man from a burning car following a crash in Austin, Texas.
The Ypsilanti native discussed the incident on ESPN’s Adam Schefter’s podcast on Monday. Osborn told Schefter that he was driving home in an Uber and was using his phone when his Uber alerted him of a car crash.
Osborn said when he looked to his right, he saw a car that was under a bridge pillar engulfed in flames. At first, Osborn was cautious about approaching the car because it was on fire but decided, along with the Uber driver, to pull the man out of the vehicle.
“We saw that the guy was alive,” Osborn said during the podcast. “We him get out of the car and that’s when I picked him up. He’s bleeding all on my shirt and everything and I pick him up and carry him about 10-15 yards so we’re at least away from the car a little bit.”
Thankful, they were able to pull the man away from the vehicle and to safety as they waited for the paramedics to arrive.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire and the police on the scene told Osborn that they had saved the man’s life.
https://twitter.com/KJ_Osborn/status/1632899141033508866?s=20
“They told us he wouldn’t have been able to get out of that vehicle without help,” Osborn.
Osborn said the man appeared to be OK and he plans to visit the man in the hospital.
“Obviously, it’s a situation I never imagined myself in in a million, billion years,” Osborn told Schefter. “They always say wrong place, wrong time, but I was at the right place at the right time, so I was happy we were able to do that.”
Osborn also took to Twitter to talk about the incident Monday evening.
“Last night myself and 3 absolute heroes helped save a man’s life by rescuing him from a vehicle up in flames after a bad crash. A situation I’d never imagine being apart of in a million years,” Osborn wrote.
Osborn was selected by the Vikings in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft after playing his college football at Buffalo and Miami (FL).
He has become an integral member of the Vikings’ offense in his three seasons as he has recorded 172 receptions for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns.
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