A news reporter ran off camera during live TV broadcast to help a cyclist who crashed on Chicago’s Lakefront Trail Wednesday morning.
Sometimes we face situations where we have to choose between our own priorities and helping others. Maybe someone needs help while we are running late to work, or we see an accident but worry about missing an important meeting.
But this TV reporter did not hesitate when he saw someone get hurt right in front of him.
The crash happened during ABC7’s 7 a.m. streaming newscast while Christian Piekos reported on dangerous heat hitting Chicago.
He was speaking directly to viewers when everything changed in an instant.
“All eyes right now are on that extreme heat watch for much—” Piekos said before he suddenly yelled “Oh, shoot.”
He dropped his microphone and ran out of the camera frame. The studio anchors looked confused as the camera stayed on the empty trail.
One anchor said, “Christian Piekos, out there live this morning. We’ll check back soon.”
When the show returned to Piekos just minutes later, he explained what pulled him away from his report.
“Literally, as we were talking with you guys a few minutes ago, a runner and a cyclist collided on the trail,” he told viewers.
“Big wipeout for the cyclist. He went over his handlebars, his helmet actually broke, so we ran right over to make sure that he was doing okay.” Piekos said.
Piekos and photojournalist James McIntyre grabbed their medical kit and ran over to help. The cyclist said he was okay and didn’t need their supplies. Still, they stayed with him to make sure he was really all right.
Piekos warned viewers to be careful with so many people running and cycling on the trail. Then he went right back to his weather report.
Many viewers were moved by Piekos’ act of kindness. One viewer wrote, “This is the type of reporter I want to watch, someone who knows when to put down the mic and has morals. I don’t think there are many in his position that would have any conviction whatsoever to act as he did, let alone put down the mic live on air… I hope he gets a raise.”
Another viewer wrote, “Kudos to Christian Piekos. He is full of empathy and compassion. He proved this today. Great going sir.”
This reporter reminds us what it means to love our neighbors. When someone needed help, Piekos did not think twice about his job or how it might look on television. He simply ran to help.
That is the heart God wants each of us to have when we see others hurting.
WATCH: Reporter Stops Weather Report Mid-Sentence to Help Crash Victim
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