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Jenny Lee helps child health and well being.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The timing was just right for saving the life of a 6-year-old girl and for turning a 24-year-old mechanic and father of two young daughters into a hero.

It was coincidence that Antonio Diaz Chacon had come home from work early to spend time with his family Monday afternoon. It was also a coincidence that the family's washing machine had just gone out, forcing them to do laundry a block down the road at a relative's home.

Had it not been for that, Diaz Chacon wouldn't have been there to see the girl thrown into a van as another neighbor yelled for the would-be kidnapper to let the child go.

Diaz Chacon is credited with saving the girl after chasing the van through a maze of neighborhoods to the edge of where Albuquerque's sprawling housing developments meet the desert. It was there where the van crashed into a pole, the suspect fled and Diaz Chacon was able to rescue the girl and take her home.

He didn't think twice about his actions.

"The way he grabbed her and threw her into the van, I knew it wasn't right," he said, as a swarm of media stood outside his home Tuesday night to hear his story. The events were interpreted and relayed from Spanish to English by his wife.

"I knew I had to catch him. I had to get the girl back from him and take her home, back where she belongs," he said.

It all happened so fast on a sidewalk in the normally quiet mobile home park, where even on the evening after the abduction kids played freely in the streets on their bikes and push scooters as food vendors sold roasted corn and other snacks.

A pair of 911 calls came in quick succession.

On one, a frantic 12-year-old says her little sister is missing. On the other is Diaz Chacon's wife, Martha.

34 Comments

Talk about right place right time!

21 months ago

I know right!! That little girl had an Angel looking out for her for sure!!

21 months ago

Wow! I would hope anyone who saw something like this would do the same. Thank God for him.

21 months ago

I would hope so to Jaky but truth is how many people have described situations just like this one where it was a man that grabbed a child and took off but they never followed him like this guy did so some serious props to him! Its sad really.... I wish more people were like him! :-)

21 months ago

great news......never see much people do this

21 months ago

Cave Man,

Wow really I didn't hear that part about the gift cards but honestly it makes me want to seriously not enough people like him in this world! He is truly amazing and God blessed that family by having him in the right place at the right time.

21 months ago

Is it right?.........

21 months ago

nice post

21 months ago

great story....I read that this guy who saved the little girl was an undocumented person. He did not think twice about the possibility of deportation, he just did what he felt in his heart was right. Love knows no boundaries.

21 months ago

Rebecca, that makes the story even more awesome then it already was! Wow! This guy is a true definition of a hero for sure!!

21 months ago

Faraz,

Is what right?

21 months ago

nice sharing sissy !! good post !!

21 months ago

Great post

21 months ago

great post my friend

21 months ago

great post

21 months ago

reviewed... great post for sharing

20 months ago

we really need to be careful now in this days

20 months ago

great news......never see much people do this

20 months ago

Asif, Its so true there are very few that would risk their own life for children other then their own... its refreshing really... :-)

Thanks for all the comments everyone

20 months ago

nyc blog

19 months ago

I love this story!

18 months ago

That is an excellent story of heroism, and a very lucky little girl.

18 months ago

I agree, the girl was very lucky. She had an angel looking over her that day for sure!

18 months ago

great work

16 months ago

great work keep it up you are doing a great job here thanxxxxxxx for sharing

15 months ago

omg ... people in the world these days ... just thank goodness that man was around and had the quick notion to react in the best interest in the little girl ... it brought tears to my eyes to hear that after the whole ordeal she was concerned about not being able to bring home her tostadas ... poor baby ... he'll get his behind bars (not even they like that funky crap)

12 months ago

great work

9 months ago