South Florida redshirt junior offensive lineman Danous Estenor may not be the most accomplished football player on his team, but he has done something very few people have: he helped save a life.
This is not an exaggeration.
The event took place in February when Estenor was heading to the Bulls Den Cafe on the school’s campus. Across the parking lot, he saw a man trapped under a car. Two men were struggling to free Pedro Arzola, a tow truck driver who got caught under a rear wheel. Enter Estenor to save the day.
The St. Petersburg Times has the rest of the story:
“I just see his legs,” Estenor recalled the situation. “The car is crushing him. He’s not moving. I’m thinking, ‘Oh, God, this guy is going to die.’ ”
“I tried to lift the car, and when I first tried, it didn’t budge. I backed up. I don’t know. But I felt this energy come, and I lifted it. I don’t know how, but somebody pulled him from the car.”
The phenomenon that helped Estenor do something superhuman is called hysterical strength which is “a burst of adrenaline that allows people to perform feats far beyond their normal physical limitations.” Although Estenor can bench press over 400 pounds according to the team’s strength and conditioning coach, being able to lift a 3,000 pound Cadillac is difficult for anyone.
Estenor says he was too shocked by the incident to eat as he had planned. The good news is Arzola only sustained a dislocated shoulder and some cuts and bruises and was back on the job in two weeks. As for Estenor, his reputation spread quickly; one day after practice, Coach Skip Holtz read a letter he received from the restaurant’s manager explaining Estenor’s heroic feat. From that point on, his teammates ribbed him about being a hero.
Rag him all they want, Estenor helped save a man’s life and was in the right place at the right time. Sounds just like another football player who saved a life recently.
Helmet knock to Dr. Saturday for the story
Photo via Estenor’s bio
You might also enjoy: In-depth recap and analysis of the NBA draft
