Two barbers pull little girl to safety after she ran into traffic

Two Connecticut barbers are being hailed as heroes after they quickly sprung into action to save a young girl from running into high-speed traffic.

Osvaldo Lugo and Rafael Santana were working at the Look Sharp Barbershop in East Hartford when Santana noticed the child running across the street.

Lugo recalled the moment and said: ‘When he mentioned seeing a child I was concerned.

‘Once I looked and saw the top of the baby’s head, the only thought in my head was run after her.’

Surveillance footage shows both men dropping their scissors and running after the girl.

Lugo was seen grabbing the child right before she ran into the path of a truck at the intersection of Main and Brown Streets, with Santana quickly running up behind the duo.

Rafael Santana (left) and Osvaldo Lugo (right) were later awarded with a certificate of special recognition for their actions by East Hartford Mayor Connor Martin

Surveillance footage from the moment shows both men dropping their scissors and running after the girl

Lugo was seen grabbing the child right before she ran into the path of a truck at the intersection of Main and Brown Streets, with Santana quickly running up behind the duo

The rescuer said: ‘Being a father myself, I went into dad mode. She was shocked. She’s looking at me like “who are you? what are you doing?”

‘But that moment was gratifying because once I was committed to get there, I’m glad that I got there on time.’

The East Hartford Police Department later said that the toddler had escaped from her mother and had started making her way towards the traffic when the two men rescued her.

Lugos later told PEOPLE: ‘When we found the mother, the reunion was silent and meaningful.

‘The mother looked at me with embarrassment but at the same time thankful.’

The rescuer said : ‘Being a father myself, I went into dad mode. She was shocked. She’s looking at me like

Lugo also said that the mother of the child looked at him with embarrassment but thankful when both men brought her daughter back to her

They were working at the Look Sharp Barbershop in East Hartford when the incident happened

Both men were later awarded with a certificate of special recognition for their actions by East Hartford Mayor Connor Martin.

While handing over the certificates, Martin said: ‘On behalf of the town of East Hartford, I can’t thank you guys enough for what you do, what you did, you went above and beyond and you potentially saved a little girl’s life.’

He also told parents at the award ceremony to pay close attention to their children in public areas.

‘You turn your back for one second as a parent and your kid could run off, they could go somewhere you didn’t see them go.

‘I don’t think it’s fair to fault a parent 100 percent…kids are going to be kids sometimes. They’re going to step away, they’re going to chase something. I think we just all need to keep an eye on our kids,’ he said.

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