Brandon Bair was on his way to work near St. Anthony, Idaho, last week when the Latter-day Saint and former NFL player witnessed a fiery accident involving a train and a semi-truck.
The collision resulted in an explosion and the 36-year-old Bair, who played in the NFL as a 6-foot-7, 290-pound defensive lineman, acted fast to call 911 before he rescued 25-year-old Steven Jenson from the burning wreckage, according to the East Idaho News.
Bair stayed with Jenson until emergency responders arrived. Jenson was airlifted to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, where he was in fair condition Friday morning, according to a hospital spokeswoman. Idaho State Police continue to investigate the crash.
He does not consider himself a hero.
“All I can say is this guy was supposed to live. I’m a man of faith, and I’ve learned to listen to your gut and the promptings you get,” Bair said in the article. “The Lord wanted him alive. Things could have gone different a million different directions, but things worked out on his behalf. That’s my conclusion. Whether it was me or someone else, he was supposed to live.”
Read the full story at EastIdahoNews.com.
Bair signed as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2011. He played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders before he retired in 2015.
Bair served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Jacksonville, Florida, and played collegiately at the University of Oregon. He was a starting defensive tackle when the Ducks lost to the Auburn Tigers in the 2011 BCS National Championship game.