Jharold Palacios Vivanco was making the most of the summer and the tourists’ visit to sell buckets and shovels on Miraflores Beach in Barranca, Peru, when he heard shouts coming from the sea.
A strong current was pulling several children out to sea, and he didn’t think twice.
“I threw my things down, took off my sneakers, took off my hoodie, and got in the water. I ran as hard as I could and didn’t stop until I managed to get those kids out”, Jharold said.
He kept three children and an adult afloat, fighting the waves until lifeguards joined the rescue. He confessed that he had to go into the sea twice to help. When everyone was safely on shore and the children were reunited with their parents, Jharold returned to the sand, picked up his toys, and carried on working as if nothing had happened.
“If it weren’t for his quick reaction, perhaps the lifeguards wouldn’t have arrived in time”, a witness commented.
No one asked him to be a hero that day, but his incredible act was immortalized, earning him the title of a hero without a cape.