Ordinary Heroes - Lenny Skutnik

[bluegrassreb1]

what a hero!!

and what a pilot!!

[bungalowmo]

I have watched versions of this clip many times. What has been ingrained in my mind are first, the look of total confusion and helplessness on Priscilla's face. What a horrific experience this must have been for her. The gut reaction of Lenny Skutnik. God bless you for pushing aside all fears and jumping in to save her! The amazing and precise actions by the helicopter rescue team. And last, but not least, the selfless actions of Arland Williams. To put his own safety last...#1 HERO!

[bshaun21]

Way to go guy. Great big basket of hero cookies for that dude. My question is this. With all those fkn people watching from the bridges and embankments , why was this guy the only one willing to risk himself to help ? I realize that not everyone has it in them to sacrifice themselves for another. But seriously, 1 guy ?, all those fkn people and only one guy was willing ? What a bunch of gdamn cowards.

[COSMOTOPPER777]

FYI, I did not approve the advertisements, and I don't receive compensation for this, or any other video I post to YouTube. I think it's inappropriate, but there's nothing I can do about it.

[Doherty2266]

Unbelievable, what true heroes, thank you to Mr. Skutnik, the helicopter crew, Mr. olian and the others. They are an inspiration to me and I hope many others. I just saw the video on the weather channel(9/30/11), I hope if I'm ever presented with a similar situation I would act in kind.

[3piper]

Thank you!!!I always heard of the potomic river rescue I never saw original footage except for bits and pieces.

[zo1215so]

Thank God for these heroes.

[Dpigeon100]

wow.. im a 13 year old who read about this disaster in the book, "Written In Blood" i quickly got on the computer and searched this up.. I'm amazed..

[oldnaziwino]

Lenny a true hero and a modest one, a real man.

[noengerny]

Lenny............I looked you up twenty years ago because I think you are great.........thanks for doing something we all should be willing to do.....you are relevant and you are the best of humanity. If you ever get down to Panama City Beach, let me know and my wife and I would be honored to give you and yours a free vacation.

[chuckhf420]

I would first like to thank Youtube video producer, Nutnfancy, for introducing me to this man and situation. And of course, thank you Lenny Scutnik, for showing me what a real man does. God bless

[dkseaverns1]

Whoever disliked this video should have been one of the first to die on that plane!

[berlinmitte10117]

Very brave men

[genenco1]

Lenny could have easily gone into shock hitting that cold water. Whatever anyone says about him in detrimental fashoin should remember, He was WILLING to throw away his life for someone he knew nothing about. The only common bond was "They were BOTH human beings"

[reving19]

Lenny Skutnik is certainly a hero. Arland D. Williams Jr. is a hero as well in my book for handing the rope off to others when he could have saved himself. The rescuers in the helicopter are heroes, too. Several people became heroes that day, Jan. 13, 1982.

[whitethronebooks]

I think Priscilla's body temperature was something like 81 degrees F when they pulled her out. She had severe hypothermia.

[stars1299]

i can never watch this without tears in my eyes!

[ceddie1988]

oggasteen you are a real pompatus asshole . with your yippie yuppie mentality, your so wrapped up in your grey poupon champagne holier then thou attitude, you missed the whole point about god smiling ear to ear. a moronic selfish mind like yours could never grasp.!!!!

[COSMOTOPPER777]

@ceddie1988 (and all others engaged in the vitriolic rhetoric). A well-intended comment by someone who happened to see this event in terms of his personal faith has been the departure point for people who don't know each other hurling venomous comments at each other. I'm leaving them up because they stand as a useful counterexample of what this posting was intended to celebrate about human nature.

[katiethekitten13]

Hello all, Lenny Skutnik is my uncle. To answer...Lenny lives a very modest life. He has never tried to cash in on what he did. In fact, he did not even want to be recognized for it and has a hard time even doing interviews. It is correct that he still works at the same place. Thank you to the person who made this video. It makes me even more proud of him. :)

[COSMOTOPPER777]

@katiethekitten13

The video is an excerpt from a series on airline disasters. I posted it during the media storm apropos Capt. Sullenberger's landing on the Hudson. I respect what he did. But Lenny remains a greater inspiration to me. What I admire most is not so much the risk of plunging into the water, but the courage to step out from the safety of the crowd, risking failure to try and save the life of a stranger. I hope I would have the guts to do the same. Tell him thanks for all of us.

[katiethekitten13]

@COSMOTOPPER777 I told about all of the people that commented on these videos. He appreciates it.

[COSMOTOPPER777]

@katiethekitten13 Apropos the video clip itself, it was an excerpt from a series called "Seconds from Disaster" produced by National Geographic Television.

[videolung]

@katiethekitten13 Your uncle is a great man, a real hero. God bless and keep him, always.

[katiethekitten13]

@videolung Thank you for your kindness. I love him very much. :D

[dustyflair]

@katiethekitten13 Tell Uncle Lenny he's MY HERO and based upon what he did I have NEVER hesitated to help someone. I remember watching this on TV when I was a kid and seeing what Uncle Lenny did! It changed my life. Uncle Lenny touched MANY people around the word and actually in his own way, made the world a better place!!!

[berlinmitte10117]

Phenomenal bravery all round

[celticlofts]

Heroes don't always wear a uniform, and they seldom have medals displayed on a wall. They are ordinary people who at a moments notice find the courage to do extraordinary things. My heroes have always been ordinary people !!

[DaveGorrie46]

Mr Skutnik,

Sir, you are a damned hero! Made even better by the fact that you don't think you are "Anyone would have done what I did" - perhaps. It doesn't detract from the fact that I get goosepimples whenever I watch your heroism!

Hero!

[rvolters]

at 6:00 lenny says> it was just to much to take, i watch this over and over and cry and cry and cry, god bless you lenny!!!!

[angryscowl]

bush  made the plane crash

[peacequiet]

I have this etched forever in my head. To this day,i refer to Lenny Skutnik as the definition of a hero

[chgofdsteve]

He inspired me and many others to become firefighters.

[MrBruceleo1]

it was just to much to take, lennys words, anybody got a problem with that?

[MrBruceleo1]

in this world of despair and mans inhumaity to each other, i often think that god does not smile often when he sees what goes on here, but on jan 13th 1982 god had a smile ear to ear when he saw lenny skutnik dive into that icy hell and rescue that woman.

[oggasteen]

@MrBruceleo1 if there was a god who cared about us, i don't think he'd be so insensitive as to have a big grin on his face after 74 people just died...but that's just my opinion.

[MrBruceleo1]

i think you missed my whole point. in all that horror, one man stood out, yes 74 people died, but there was a shining light in all that darkness it was lenny skutnik and god did not interfere, but when lenny jumped in he had to smile. please understand. thank you

[oggasteen]

@MrBruceleo1 it simply doesnt make sense why you bring god into this. it's disingenuous to the victims of the accident, ignoring their plight to describe god's happy facial reaction when you never saw it. why would he "have" to smile? just cuz u say so? it was a tragic incident and a man risked his life to save someone elses. you can laud that man, you can mourn the lost lives, but there's no rationale in saying god smiled. id imagine god would prefer no deaths and no hero to 74 dead and 1 hero.

[fengyungo]

@oggasteen you use fancy and disingenuous words, yea god smiled you asshole, when lenny jumped in the cold water and saved that woman. god smiled when that 1 life was saved, something your pompotous asshole mind could and never would understand,

[24preacherboy]

There is a God who cares about us

[billheartyface]

Really? Then why'd the jackass crash the plane in the first place?

[oggasteen]

the existence of god was not the main point. but since you bring it up, there's no point in having a god who cares about us, but won't help us out, even though he has all the power to do so, which i assume you believe. i'd sooner worship lenny skutnik than the god you believe in.

[24preacherboy]

@oggasteen

"he that believeth not shall be damed"

"every knee shall bow and every toung shall confess tha Jesus Christ is Lord"

There, I just foretold your future.

And I did it for free!!

You owe me nothing for this, at least this time.

[Frenious]

@24preacherboy

You are such an idiot.

[24preacherboy]

@oggasteen Just because God doesnt give you everything you want doesnt mean he doesnt care.

You little baby.

[oggasteen]

@24preacherboy you know, i've heard similar things about allah, should i confess my belief in that god too? since the evidence for the existence of either is the same, i.e. there is none. and i'm sure those victims on the plane WANTED not to die, but god didn't save them even though he could have.. what is the rubric for god's intervention? your response is "God works in mysterious ways."

[oggasteen]

i don't want to further this discussion. the point was originally, that it's disrespectful to make a comment like the one somebody made about god having a huge smile on his face because of heroism, even though 70+ ppl just died. to assume god would be remarkably happy in light of such tragedy...that's insensitive and rude.... and btw, i appreciate that you and your god "care" enough about me to damn me. that's so caring of the both of you.

[24preacherboy]

@oggasteen Its easier to believe there is no God. This facilitates you doing whatever YOU want and that YOU have to follow no rules and YOU are in charge of your destiny.

YOU have made yourself god.

YOU are happy with that. Fine.

YOU thought an innocent comment about God smiling was insensitive so YOU have to get YOUR opinion out there and criticize people.

Its all about YOU.

Quit wearing your feelings on your sholder you little selfish baby.

[oggasteen]

it's easier to believe there's no god, because there's no evidence for one. i don't do whatever i want, i have plenty of rules to follow, e.g. the law, my own moral guidlines, etc. i don't consider myself god. i just have my own agency to think freely. and since we when was anybody free from criticism? you're criticizing me for my beliefs, i can surely criticize people for theirs. aren't your comments an expression of you opinion of me. which you are apparently wearing on your shoulder?

[oggasteen]

btw, why would you say we can't express our opinions? do you think expression opinions is wrong? is this not a free society?

......so rather than arguing or debating the points that i brought up, you decide to make assumptions of my character and then name call me. i've responded to the points you've made, and if you can't do the same, there isn't an argument, and i won't draw this pointless contention any further.

[Frenious]

@oggasteen

don't worry, you're not the only one with sound enough reasoning to see that religious people make no fucking sense whatsoever when they try to tell us what God does or thinks

[Ravenholm1982]

Lenny realy hero couse i think if you saveing anybody and not prepared to self-die its much more hard, than if you prepared to die.

[GunGemini]

dudes got BALLS!

Hero

[redhummert]

Thanks for pointing that out about Olian. Did he jump from the bridge in an effort to rescue? I am about to make a University presentation about whether or not altruism exists. My sister suggested this story and I have been so moved by it, I am going to show excerpts of this video. Your commentary has been great, very helpful. My 11 year old son watched it with me and wept. He said, "Mom, I would do it too. I would want to be like Skutnik. He was such a good person."

[redhummert]

Nov. 9, 2009- My presentation went very well, thanks. The class was riveted and unanimous in their opinion that altruism does exist. There is a lot of debate about this topic in philosophical circles which claim that every good deed is done because of something that rewards the doer. In this case, he took no reward, during or after. Many wondered about the others on the river bank who did nothing. I suspect they felt the same thing as Lenny but lacked the courage to act.

[redhummert]

The last hand shown on the video was Arland Williams. He passed his safety rope five times to other passengers before he drowned. Another hero. Amazing story.

[COSMOTOPPER777]

After reading your comment, I checked to make sure I had mentioned Mr. Williams in the text details, but his story bears repeating. Roger Olian also distinguished himself that day, the first onlooker to jump into the freezing water in an attempt to reach the survivors, although unsuccessful, no less valiant. President Reagan learned of Olian's actions after his commendation of Lenny Skutnik, and wrote him a letter thanking him. Thanks for your comment.

[mia1shooter]

Lenny Skutnik is a true hero; period!.

[dinoLomedico]

Interesting there were rescue people already there, remeinds me David fought Goliath as scores watched. Lenny outshined all the professionals. Could you imagine what he felt when he grabed her failing body and saved her?

[pdxdefatty]

The video of Ronald Reagan saluting Lenny Skutnik may be found at the Cosmotopper videos page.

[logalogalog]

I just watched president Reagan's 1982 State of the Union. When he recognized Mr. Skutnik, I frantically searched the net for his story of heroism. That was an incredible act of heroism!

God Bless Lenny Skutnik.

[COSMOTOPPER777]

If you have a link to video of Reagan's speech, I'd like to see it. Thanks for your comment.

[philiparomeo]

@COSMOTOPPER777

youtube.com/watch?v=PixWSSeKGt­I&feature=related



[berlinmitte10117]

Very brave people, all the rescuers.

[starryian007]

Watching the horrifying scene unfold, the one bright star that decended that saved the life of that poor young lady with no thought for his own safety. Although saddened and shocked by the events unfolding and for those crushed in spirit, Lenny Skutnik gave hope to the millions who saw it around the world.. The man is a true hero is every sense of the word. May God be always with you Lenny Skutnik.

[gggggaaaaarrrrryyyyy]

I truly hope Mr.Skutnik continued to have a wonderful life after his heroic acts were beamed across the World.His lack of needing press attention and adulation just goes to show what a TRUE hero he was on that day...people say things like "it's what anyone would have done"...well I have to disagree...not many people would have done what he done without thought. Almost 3 decades later and this unsung hero is still remembered by many......in my opinion,thats a fine tribute!!

[COSMOTOPPER777]

Lenny Skutnik still works in the same job he held at the time of the crash, in the Congressional Budget Office in Washington, D.C. As far as I know, he's never made any attempt to cash in on his notoriety, and rejected numerous offers to do so. It is gratifying to hear these comments recognizing the values he demonstrated, long after the story dropped off the media radar. Thanks for taking the time.

[gggggaaaaarrrrryyyyy]

Thanks for the information.I tried to find something on Mr.Skutnik as I did'nt know if he was still living or not.Again,...the fact that he is still with the same job shows what dedication the man has.I'm pleased to hear he is still doing well for himself and wish him the very best for his future.

[fengyungo]

i think when bette midler did the song the wind beneath my winds, it had to be about lenny skutnik, after all the lyrics go> Did you ever know that you're my hero,

and everything I would like to be?

I can fly higher than an eagle,

'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

[cpnstav]

I hope Don His crewman and Lenny were truly honoured for their Stirling efforts that day.

[pdxdefatty]

Glad you mentioned Roger Olian's earlier attempts to swim out and reach the survivors. Skutnik was one of several people who distinguished themselves that day. Had the Park Service team hesitated a moment to roll out the chopper and find the crash site (under white-out conditions), there would have been no survivors.

[irishgeal1]

nice 1 lenny

[fengyungo]

i'll never forget it , it was my 25th birthday, when lenny jumped in, i said to myself, what balls,!!!!, this guy fought the unbeatable foe, and walked where the brave dare not go. 22 years later it still brings tears to my eyes, lenny you saved a life, a precious heart still beats today thanks to you. you never swaggered or flaunted your hero status, because thats the kind of class act that you are. sadly today it is not like that, but lenny your an inspiration to millions!!!!!

[ChickenMcFuggits]

I remember watching this rescue on the tv as it was happening. From a different angle you see Skutnik run down the embankment. That image stayed with me since. People talk to me about heroes alot, as I'm a law enforcement officer. I agree with you. I've been shot at, folded spindled and mutilated a few times but that's not hero. Lenny Skutnik has always been my definition of a hero, doing what others were afraid to do, completely out of his character, risking his own life for that of another.

[hazelwood55]

I remember when this happened, I was home from college recovering from the flu and I was watching this live. I felt incredibly helpless as I watched the woman sliding into the water, then that guy jumped in and saved her and I cried my eyes out.

[COSMOTOPPER777]

I have great admiration for Captain Sullenberger, but as he himself pointed out, the word 'hero' is a little off the mark in his case. Lenny Skutnik epitomizes that idea for me: he had the courage to step out of line with no time to calculate the risk, only the necessity to act.

[fengyungo]

amen brother i cried my eyes out too, tears of joy, after lenny saved her.lenny hope your retired by now, living happy and in a warm place!!!

[beechcat]

I was not quite 10 yrs old when this crash occurred. Images that flashed across the television that day have been forever imprented in my memory. So terribly tragic, yet flashes of selfless heroism were displayed that day. To this day I have purposely not flown in an airplane, and I truly believe that the main reason for not doing so is the images that I still so vividly recall from that icy day.

[COSMOTOPPER777]

For most of my life I was terrified of flying. Then one day, when I was about 45, a friend asked me if I would like to go flying with him in his single engine plane. I agreed. After we took off, he said: "Why don't you take over..." That summer, I flew 40-50 hours (everything but the landings), and I never worried about flying commercial again. Last week's events should reassure you. Life is too precious to let it be ruined by fear. Thanks for your comment!