The car was burning and could have blown up at any moment. Still, Good Samaritan Justin Gavin didn’t hesitate to rush in and save the lives of a mother and her children.

Including a 1-year-old.

It was the Golden Rule that inspired the 18-year-old from Brooklyn to act so bravely and rescue the family.

“Life is too short, so I just thought if that was me in that situation, I would want someone to help me so I definitely did what I can do,” Gavin told ABC 11.

Gavin was walking down the street in Waterbury, CT, where he was temporarily living, when he spotted a car that was in flames and rolling to a stop.

When he got closer, he saw a woman and three children in the back seat.

While he was intimidated by the scene, it didn’t stop him from coming to the rescue.

“I was scared because I didn’t know whether the car was going to blow up in that instant,” he said. “I grabbed the baby and the two little girls out of the car and I helped her out of the car.”

The mother gave the police an account of what transpired and how Gavin saved their lives.

Hours later, they presented Gavin with one of the city’s highest honors, a Challenge Coin.

“It’s just to acknowledge this heroic act that you conducted today and just a token of my appreciation for you being a great member of this community,” Waterbury police chief Fernando Spagnolo said.

Not only would the coin congratulate Gavin for helping to protect his fellow man, but it was also meant to serve him well in the future.

“The police chief told me whenever I feel like I need some courage or some type of way like brave or something like that always just look back at the coin and think of that day,” Justin said.

Gavina also received recognition from the community.

Still, he wasn’t used to being called a “hero.” He found it “awkward.”

“It’s weird, but I’m trying to manage it, I’m trying to live a normal life,” Gavin told CT Post.

“Little kids stop me and say ‘oh my god you’re the hero, you’re the hero’ and they stop to take a picture. Or I’ll just be walking down the street or getting on a train or bus and people just say ‘I’m proud of you’ or ‘that’s something good that you did.’”

Source: The Drew Barrymore Show

Gavin’s story spread nationally. He even appeared on the Drew Barrymore Show. He was surprised with a video message from his favorite athlete, NBA star Carmelo Anthony and some Jordans.

Anthony told him that “he was a true, true hero. You’ve inspired me.”

“I thought that I was dreaming. I’m always going to remember that. I loved watching Carmelo growing up from when he was on the Denver Nuggets to the New York Knicks to the Thunders and now on the Trail Blazers. It was a good feeling hearing Carmelo Anthony say that and I will never forget it,” Gavin said.

He was also given swag seasonal passes for the Brooklyn Nets. Barrymore also presented Gavin with a proclamation from the Mayor of Waterbury.

“Everybody says I’m crazy for that,” Gavin said. “If I was in that situation I would want somebody to help me too.”

Learn more about Gavin’s story below.

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Source: CBS New York, CT Post, ABC 11