A 20-year-old man, identified as Christopher Hellenthal, dressed in a Spider-Man costume, intervened to assist a man in a wheelchair navigate across six lanes of busy traffic in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The incident occurred on Tuesday when Hellenthal, who had just finished working at a superhero-themed event at a trampoline park, noticed the individual struggling to cross the road.
Witnesses reported that Hellenthal emerged from a red Jeep and quickly moved to help, stating, "I got you." He then proceeded to push the wheelchair across the lanes of traffic, reaching safety just moments before the light changed and vehicles began to move. The event was captured by a street security camera and later shared by the Jonesboro Police Department on social media, drawing widespread attention and praise.
Hellenthal, who resides in Lake City, described the experience as adrenaline-fueled, noting the need for swift action in the midday traffic. He mentioned that he was wearing the costume as a matter of convenience, finding it humorous to be in character while performing the rescue. After ensuring the man was safely across, Hellenthal returned to his Jeep, which had been blocking traffic, as the light had turned green rapidly.
The police department's Facebook post of the video garnered significant engagement, with tens of thousands of likes. A spokesperson for the department, Sally Smith, stated that she had not witnessed such an event in her seven years with the department. The identity of the individual in the wheelchair was not released.
Hellenthal, a self-proclaimed Spider-Man fan, had previously met Stan Lee, the co-creator of the Marvel character. Packy Magel, a manager at Ultimate Air Trampoline Park where Hellenthal works, confirmed that the man's actions were characteristic of his personality, including the decision to perform the rescue while still in costume.