COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A daring rescue by a Cobb County police officer was captured on video, as the officer saved a man from a burning car, earlier this month.
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Ofc. Rahim Somani has only been with the Cobb County police department for nine months and is already being hailed a hero.
Dash camera and body camera video show what Ofc. Somani was up against when he noticed a burning car on Interstate 285 East, as he was headed home outside of Cobb County.
“He sees multiple mangled vehicles and one car has flames on the passenger side,” said Ofc. Aaron Wilson, public information officer for the Cobb County Police Department.
“Everything happened really fast. I saw a burning car and I saw someone in the car. I knew I had to get in there,” said Somani.
“There were no other first responders on scene. Honestly, they would have been too late to get to him,” said Wilson.
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Dashcam video shows Somani run to the burning car, as he inches closer the driver appears to be trapped inside as flames grow by the second.
“The driver told me that he couldn’t get out and he couldn’t move his leg possibly due to some broken bones,” said Somani.
“It’s a mere couple (of) feet and the flames were going to be on top of this driver,” said Wilson.
“I grabbed his leg and I helped him get out (of) the car,” said Somani.
Ofc. Somani and the driver try to walk as far away from the car as they can, but the victim’s injury becomes unbearable.
“We came to a point where he just couldn’t move anymore. So 20 seconds later a bystander approached,” said Somani.
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“He is a rookie officer (who) has already saved somebody’s life,” said Ofc. Wilson.
Ofc. Somani has a message for the victim: “If you’re watching this I hope you are having a speedy recovery and I’m glad I was able to help you at the right place and time.”