Chicago lollipop man branded hero after saving a child from crossing flooded road
Taking your job seriously is a given at any workplace, but it seems no one has gone to quite the lengths of one lollipop man in Chicago.
Joe Sass, a crossing guard at Jamieson Elementary School, is known in his local community for his friendly demeanour and for helping pupils safely cross the road daily.
But it seems his helpfulness went a step further on Thursday morning after he took it upon himself to save a child from walking across a flooded road before school.
Joe has been branded a hero by locals for safely carrying the child and preventing them from navigating the waterlogged street.
A video captured by local news outlet WGN Morning News shows the moment Joe lifted the child from the pavement and onto his shoulder.
He is seen walking with the child on his shoulder, checking for traffic, crossing the road and safely returning the child to the other side of the road, the footage reveals.
The area is currently under a blanket of snow, making for slippery conditions, but it seemingly became more of a hazard after a burst water main caused flooding and brown sludge to form.
The intersection between West Bryn Mawr Avenue and North California Avenue near the school was flooded, following the burst pipe.
Joe described his job as ‘very humbling’ and said he often speaks to pupils the same way he would speak to his daughter, asking them about their day.
Speaking on WGN Morning News on Friday, he told reporters: ‘It’s amazing. It’s very humbling. I love my neighbours.
‘For me, I don’t think I’m doing anything extra to help someone in my neighbourhood or the city, for that matter.
‘I think it’s great to be a helpful Chicagoan, love your neighbour and help out where you can.’
He added that his job allows him to connect with people within the community.
‘I crossed their older brothers and sisters. You get to know the parents and the family dog, and see these kids grow up,’ Joe said.
‘A big smiley face staring at you across the crosswalk in the morning, it’s truly a beautiful thing.’
It seems this is not the first time Joe has demonstrated his kindness to his community.
He said he once organised a fundraiser to buy a new bike for a young child from the neighbourhood after it was stolen.
Parents and locals have described him as a nice person, adding that his kind gestures are something he does every day.
Footage of Joe helping the child was uploaded by a senior reporter at WGN Morning News and quickly picked up traction on X.
The video seemed capture the hearts of many after it earned more than 775,000 views and 23,000 likes on the social media platform.
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