David Llanos, a garbage truck driver in Tampa, Florida, has been hailed as a local hero after he located a lost child, earning him a "Life Changer" award for his service. The award was presented by Tampa Mayor Jane Castor last Monday, praising Llanos for his commendable act on March 19, when he found a distressed woman on the road searching for her son, as reported by local broadcaster WFLA.
The incident unfolded around 9:00 AM, when Llanos, who had stopped his truck, "did everything in his power" to assist, eventually finding the boy a block away from his home, the station noted. Llanos then reunited the child with his worried mother.
Larry Washington, the director of Solid Waste, stated in a press release, "I could not be prouder of David Llanos for realizing that something was amiss and stepping in to help." He added, "His heroic actions reflect the commitment of our team to the community and underscore our role as first responders."
The governor's office highlighted on their website that each year, solid waste collection workers undergo training that helps them remain "vigilant and alert during special events and on their collection routes."
In a related remarkable incident in Suwannee County, Florida, a pitbull dog kept a three-year-old boy safe for hours after the child got lost in the woods. The Suwannee County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call from a mother stating that her son was playing outside with his siblings and had wandered off. She believed her son was with Buddy, the family dog, who was also missing from the home at the time.