A driver dressed as Spider-Man stopped to assist a man in a wheelchair who was having difficulty crossing a six-lane highway in Arkansas. The incident was recorded on video and shared widely online.
Christopher Hellenthal, 20, was still in his Spider-Man costume after working at a superhero-themed event on Tuesday when he noticed the pedestrian struggling to navigate the busy roadway. Footage shows Hellenthal exiting his red Jeep Wrangler and pushing the wheelchair across the highway. He later told The Associated Press that he felt a surge of adrenaline and thought it would be "pretty funny" to help while wearing the suit.
The Jonesboro Police Department posted the video on Facebook, where it received over 1.7 million views. The department captioned the post, "We were able to spot this little web of kindness on our intersection cameras. Thank you, sir, for helping this gentleman reach his destination safely. Whether it's a red light or green light, there is always time to do what's right!"
Angie Walker, who identified herself as Hellenthal's manager at Ultimate Air Trampoline Park, commented on the post to confirm the act was spontaneous and that Hellenthal is a good person who stepped in to help someone in need. Other commenters praised Hellenthal's actions, calling it a demonstration of good citizenship and wishing for him to receive recognition.
Hellenthal, a fan of superheroes who met Marvel Comics creator Stan Lee before his death in 2018, narrowly returned to his vehicle as traffic began to move again.
The event occurred approximately one week before the release of the Spider-Man sequel "Spider-Man: Brand New Day."