Meet Ed Beedenbender, left, and Rich McInerney, who work at RCM Automotive Service Inc., in Ronkonkoma, New York. These two men used fire extinguishers from their shop to prevent flames from engulfing a victim in a burning vehicle earlier this year. The driver had lost control of the vehicle, which hit a tree and burst into flames.
The victim was airlifted to a nearby hospital with serious injuries, but it seems likely that the selfless action of these two ordinary guys saved a life.
Two ordinary guys? Maybe. But we think of people like Ed and Rich whenever someone cavalierly uses the word "hero" to describe a sports star.
(Photo by James Carbone / Newsday)
