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'It's nice to help people' | 9-year-old saves neighbor being crushed by car

"Always help people - no matter how big or small you are" - the words of a 9-year-old hero.

SUMTER, S.C. -- One South Carolina child is being called a hero after his quick thinking helped avert tragedy and saved one man’s life.

Sometimes help comes in unexpected ways. Alan Clemmons was doing something he knows and loves best at his home in Sumter, South Carolina - working on cars.

“I was working on my Mustang convertible pulling the transmission out," he said. "It was up on blocks. I seen it rolling and I couldn’t get out from under it.”

Credit: WLTX

After an hour and a half of being stuck under a 3,000-pound car, Clemmons was about to call it quits.

“I was asking God to help me and asked him to take care of my family because I knew I didn’t have a chance," Clemmons said. "I gave up. He gave me that last breath to holler because I was getting ready to shut my eyes and say that’s it.”

Nine-year-old Malachi Coffey was playing in the backyard and heard a call for help. That’s when he came to the rescue. He found Clemmons stuck under the car and immediately went to work.

“The other person didn’t know how to work the jack so I told him and then once the car was off of him, I went and told K-K and granny,” Malachi said.

Credit: WLTX

Clemmons couldn’t believe someone actually heard his cry for help.

“That little boy showed up. You don’t know what a relief it was for him to jack it up and pull me from underneath that car,” Clemmons said.

Credit: WLTX

Clemmons was then airlifted to the Palmetto Health Richland Hospital for treatment.

The small hands of a child were the tools used to help save a man’s life. A kid who just so happened to be visiting family helped bring a miracle.

“I hope he feels better," Malachi said. "It’s nice to help people.”

Clemmons is just happy he’s alive to share the story of a brave child -- a complete stranger -- who saved him from certain death.

“He’s my guardian angel. He’s my guardian angel because he saved my life,” Clemmons said.

Credit: WLTX

His mom, April Coffey, couldn’t be more proud of him.

“He’s always been that person where when something’s happening, he’s the one keeping his head, keeping his cool, and he’s going to do what he’s supposed to do,” she said.

Malachi has one lesson he wants everyone to know.

“To always help people - no matter how big or small you are," he said. "It’s the right thing to do.”

While Clemmons recovers from six broken ribs and a fractured shoulder and pelvis, he's looking forwarding to talking with Malachi once he gets out of the hospital in a few weeks.

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