Heather Whitley

USA TODAY

Being a firefighter takes a lot of bravery. They put themselves in the path of danger on a regular basis. It's just one reason why they are often called heroes. But it's not often that these heroes get the chance to save the life of another hero.

That's just what happened when Chirie Bazzelle stopped to help a woman whose car had slipped across an icy road and slammed into a concrete median. The Good Samaritan grabbed her phone to call 911 but when she looked up – she saw a jackknifed tractor trailer heading straight towards her.

"Next thing I know I felt something hit me in my back and everything went black," she recalls. The truck threw Bazzelle 40 feet off a bridge.

Firefighters arrived on the scene but it wasn't until Bazzelle screamed out that they noticed the victim below the bridge. Bazzelle was conscious but seriously injured and spent the next three months in hospitals and rehab. Watch the video above to hear her and the firefighters describe the horrific scene and the harrowing rescue.

But as soon as she got back on her feet, Bazzelle tracked down the firefighters who saved her life. Not only did she thank them with care packages, but she continued to bring gifts every month after that. It wasn't long before lasting friendships were formed and Bazzelle became part of the firefighter family.

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