The Instinct to Save: Stories of Everyday Altruism in a World Obsessed with Negativity
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A growing body of research, exemplified by Larissa MacFarquhar’s Strangers Drowning, explores the motivations of individuals driven by an extraordinary commitment to helping others – a dedication that often defies conventional self-preservation. This impulse to act, even at great personal cost, stands in stark contrast to a news landscape frequently dominated by stories of human failings. But amidst the negativity, a powerful counter-narrative persists: the stories of those who run toward danger, guided by instinct and a profound sense of empathy.
Beyond Outrage: Recognizing the Urge to Help
The daily news cycle often fixates on the worst of humanity, fueled by the rapid spread of outrage across social media. However, a closer examination reveals a consistent, though often overlooked, thread: accounts of individuals who instinctively risk their own well-being to save others. These aren’t calculated acts of heroism, but rather immediate responses to suffering, devoid of self-interest or a desire for recognition. As one observer noted, these individuals “don’t workshop it. They don’t calculate odds.” They simply act.
These stories aren’t meant to diminish the reality of evil, but to offer a more complete picture of the human condition. They remind us that alongside the capacity for cruelty exists an equally powerful capacity for selfless compassion.
Acts of Courage in 2025
As we close out 2025, it’s vital to highlight just a few of the many individuals who demonstrated extraordinary altruism, putting their lives on the line for strangers. These are, overwhelmingly, ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Their actions prompt a universal question: would we respond in the same way?
Wrestling a Shooter at Bondi Beach
On December 14th, during a shooting at a “Chanukah by the Sea” event at Bondi Beach, Ahmed al Ahmed exemplified this instinct. Rather than seeking safety, video footage shows al Ahmed sprinting toward the attacker, disarming the shooter, and holding him until authorities arrived. He was wounded in the confrontation and is recovering from complex surgery. The New South Wales Premier hailed him as “a genuine hero,” stating that “many people were alive because of Ahmed’s bravery.” From his hospital bed, al Ahmed simply explained that he acted “from the heart.”
Evacuating Children During Texas Floods
In early July, Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan faced a harrowing situation during catastrophic flooding in central Texas. Coordinating the evacuation of 165 people at Camp Mystic, Ruskan endured “some of the worst flying we’ve ever dealt with,” extending a typical one-hour flight to seven or eight hours. Arriving on the ground, he found himself the sole first responder responsible for triaging and evacuating roughly 200 children and staff. Ruskan, however, downplayed his role, stating, “I just happened to be on the duty crew,” and insisted, “the real heroes…were the kids on the ground.”
Neighbors Respond to Plane Crash in Florida
When a small plane crashed into a tree in Pembroke Pines, Florida in July, neighbors didn’t hesitate to respond. Giovanna Hanley and others rushed toward the burning wreckage, with one neighbor providing an ax and another a fire extinguisher. Working together, they cleared a path to rescue all four passengers, who were subsequently hospitalized. The mayor described their actions as “nothing short of heroic.”
A Parisian Rescue From a Burning Building
In northern Paris in July, Fousseynou Cissé demonstrated remarkable courage when toxic smoke trapped families in a top-floor apartment. Balancing precariously on a narrow ledge 65 feet above the ground, Cissé helped evacuate children and mothers to safety. His explanation was characteristically humble: “It wasn’t calculated; it was instinct: ‘We’ve got to go.’” Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez announced Cissé would receive a medal “in recognition of his courage and dedication,” calling it an example of “republican courage.”
Saving a Teen on the Subway Tracks
On August 20th, Metropolitan Transit Authority conductor Ray McKie heard screams at Queensboro Plaza in New York City. Seeing a 14-year-old lying unconscious on the train tracks, McKie immediately ran to signal the train to stop and then jumped down to rescue the teen, who had fainted and hit his head. He remained with the injured passenger until emergency responders arrived. The teen has since recovered. McKie described the event as “pure reflex,” stating, “It all happened very fast, and I just went on instinct.”
A Call to Action
These stories serve as a powerful reminder that even in a world often focused on negativity, acts of extraordinary kindness and courage are happening all around us. It’s impossible to read their accounts without questioning our own potential for similar selflessness. While we may never know how we would react in a similar situation, each of us can choose, every day, to make the lives of those around us a little better. That is an intention worth carrying into the new year.
