DDN – Many people are hailing a Neenah guy as a hero after rescuing two individuals from a burning automobile wreck on Monday night.
Tanner Ater claimed to have heard a loud pounding sound and hurried outside his residence to investigate. According to Neenah police, a vehicle raced over a fire hydrant, down an embankment, and into a tree in the 1300 block of Gillingham Road.
“I saw a car sitting on its side and a lady screaming for help so instantly I ran back inside, put on my snow gear, grabbed my phone, hopped into my tow truck, and hauled over to her,” Ater recalled.
Ater could see the car from his apartment, but a fence required him to get into his car to get to the accident scene. He stated that he used a fire extinguisher to put out flames emanating from the automobile’s engine before assisting a woman down from atop the car, which was on its side. He had to battle through dense smoke to do all of this.
However, the job was not yet completed.
“I got the wife off, but the main one was the husband (who was still inside the car), flames were starting to re-engulf the car,” according to him. “I was worried I wasn’t going to get him out in time but thank God the cop (a Winnebago County sheriff deputy) got on the scene when he did because without his help I wouldn’t have gotten him out.”
According to a news statement from the Neenah Police Department, it was roughly -8 degrees outside when Ater and first responders made the rescue.
“I didn’t wear gloves, and my hands were nearly frostbitten,” Ater told Local 5 News in an interview on Tuesday. “At that point, I couldn’t think of anything else to grab. I wanted to run out there and save them because I noticed smoke coming from the car.
Neenah police officers tell Local 5 News that both people in the automobile were treated at the hospital. They said the female passenger had been released, while the male driver remained in the hospital on Tuesday night with unknown injuries.
Officers told Local 5 News that they don’t know what caused the incident, but they’ve ruled out any charges of operating while inebriated.
The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office supplied the following body cam footage of the rescue, which shows Tanner Ater wearing green ansi retro-reflective clothing.
“Every one of us wishes that someone would be right there to have our back to get us out of a dangerous situation,” said Joe Benoit, community policing coordinator for the Neenah Police Department. “That’s exactly what Tanner did and we’re grateful for his actions.”
Benoit stated that the best thing anyone can do if they witness a wreck or other emergency is to dial 9-1-1. He expressed gratitude that Ater went above and beyond, and stated that the department had nominated him for a ‘Life Saving Award for Citizens.’
“It’s the type of response that we would hope that any individual, any passerby, any able-bodied person would lend a hand in a time of need,” Benoit went on.
Ater said it felt nice to be able to assist the two victims involved in the vehicle incident. He claimed he feels like a hero and has gotten dozens of messages from individuals congratulating him for his efforts.
He claimed he had never done this for recognition.
“I’m hoping that this will inspire a lot of people to get out and help, don’t be afraid,” he went on. “It’s scary getting into a situation like that but if you’re willing to put your life on the line to help somebody it’s the best feeling in the world.”
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