How One Young Man’s Split-Second Decision Reminded Us All What Being Human Really Means
In a time when viral videos often highlight chaos and controversy, a simple 15-second clip out of Merritt Island, Florida, gave people something else entirely—hope. A man in a wheelchair needed to cross a busy intersection. A stranger on a motorcycle stopped, got off his bike, and made sure he crossed safely. Then, just as quickly, the mystery rider disappeared.
“Just like a little superhero – flies in, does his duty and he’s gone,” said Ralph Perronne Jr., who, with his wife Yvonne, witnessed and filmed the moment.
That video exploded across Facebook, capturing hearts and sparking a local manhunt—not to punish, but to thank. The internet wanted to know: who was this helmeted helper?
The search ended in a Checkers parking lot where Ralph, Yvonne, and the good Samaritan finally met. His name? Joshuah Ridenbaugh, a humble 20-year-old who never expected the attention.
“I just wanted to make sure he got across the road before anything bad happened,” Joshuah said, brushing off the praise.
His instinct wasn’t driven by recognition or reward. “He’s in a wheelchair, a little bit lower,” Joshuah explained. “I just want to get him across the street safely.”
For the Perronnes, meeting Joshuah was powerful. “He didn’t do it, expecting anybody to catch it. That’s the best part. He just did it and then ran back to his bike and was just gone,” Ralph shared.
Yvonne agreed, calling him “an earth angel” and saying she was “very, very honored to see this happening in the blink of an eye.”
The small moment left a big mark. Ralph became a digital detective, using tattoos visible in the video to identify Joshuah and confirm the right man before reaching out.
“This young man’s the real deal,” Ralph said. “He’s an awesome kid.”
And Joshuah? He left the encounter with one message for us all:
“Try to do one good thing a day for someone else. That’s the goal.”
A goal worth remembering—and emulating.
Source:
- https://youtu.be/UTacIjMy1TU?si=hOzCjCYdP9H4H641
- https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/mystery-motorcyclist-identified-after-helping-push-man-in-wheelchair-across-merritt-island-street
- https://chatgpt.com/
- https://app.pictory.ai/
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