A member of the United States Air Force stepped into save a couple and their dogs after their vehicle nearly fell off a steep cliff.
Many of us have driven through a thick storm or on a patch of black ice. We feel that quick shiver in our hearts when the tires slip and we realize how little control we truly have.
God watches over us in those quiet, scary moments and often sends a neighbor to stand in the gap when we cannot save ourselves.
Staff Sgt. Ruben Tala was driving on the California’s Sierra Corridor on Christmas morning. He is stationed at Travis Air Force Base.
He was traveling with his wife, Yvett, and their 22-month-old daughter. It was shortly after 8 a.m. when he saw an SUV spin out of control.
The car stopped at the very edge of a steep ledge. It was teetering hundreds of feet above the ground. Tala did not hesitate to help. “During that time, I mean, I think it’s the adrenaline kicking,” he said.
He thought about his own family as he ran toward the danger. “I thought about my wife and my daughter,” he said. “What if there’s a family in that car? Somebody has to help, you know?”
Other people stopped their cars to watch. Tala took charge and asked if anyone had a rope. One man ran to his truck and brought one back. Three other men held onto Tala’s hands to keep him steady.
Tala gripped the driver’s side door while the car dangled. The team worked together to pull the husband and wife out of the SUV. The wife was in shock and was holding her two dogs.
Tala noticed a special detail during the rescue. One of the dogs was named Luna. That is the same name as his own daughter. “I was like, what a coincidence, right?” he said.
Lt. Col. Jason Christie praised the sergeant and his wife. He said their courage reflects the value of service before self. Tala does not call himself a hero. He said he was just doing what the Air Force trained him to do. He believes in helping people no matter the situation.
When we feel like we are teetering on the edge of a personal cliff, we must remember that God provides the rope and the hands to hold us steady. He is a loving Father. He keeps us close in both the high moments and the low ones.
