Florida Firefighter Injured Saving Girlfriend's Life After Fiery Crash: 'He's a Real Hero'

Mar. 15, 2025

Firefighter Bryan Aparicio and his girlfriend Su.Photo: GoFundMe

A Florida firefighter took action to save his girlfriend’s life after they were involved in a fiery highway crash.

Bryan Aparicio, a firefighter with Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue, and his girlfriend Su were in an Uber on Interstate 95 in Delray Beach on Tuesday afternoon when a car veered into a fuel tanker’s lane, according to ABC affiliateWPLG. The tanker then overturned and caught on fire.

While trying to avoid the crash, the couple’s Uber driver hit a median wall, reported theMiami Herald.

“The vehicle was immediately immobilized andinstantaneously inundated with flames,” Aparicio’s colleagues from Station 10 at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport wrote on a GoFundMe page for the couple.

At the time of the crash, the couple were heading north to go on what was supposed to be a relaxing cruise, Jason Smith, president of the Broward County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Association, International Association of Firefighters Local 4321, tells PEOPLE.

“He doesn’t recall this, but what ends up transpiring is he ends up knocking out a window out of the back seat so they can get out,” Smith says. As he was coming out of the vehicle, he heard his girlfriend screaming and realized she wasn’t with him.

Immediately, he put his hands and head back inside to grab her and pull her to safety. In doing so, he burned his face, hands, arms and legs.

“It happened in a split second,” Smith told theMiami Herald.

“So what he instantaneously did, through all that fire, he just went ahead and sacrificed essentially everything that he had of his life to make sure that she could get out,” added Smith. “He’s a real hero.”

The couple were both taken to the hospital in critical condition with severe burn injuries, according to theHerald.

“Bryan suffered second and third-degree burns,” colleagues wrote on GoFundMe, while his girlfriend “suffered second and third-degree burns on both of her legs and hands.”

Smith tells PEOPLE that the firefighter is currently “in good spirits” and has already been through one procedure, while his girlfriend will need to undergo surgery.

“He’s fortunate that he has this job, but his girlfriend does not have the same benefits,” Smith adds. “He’s going to look to help her with whatever she needs.”

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The couple were amongfive people who were injured in the fiery crash.

With a long road of recovery ahead, the firefighter’s colleagues at the station started the GoFundMe in order to raise money for the couple’s medical bills.

As of Thursday afternoon, the page has raised over $51,000, a little over half of its goal.

“Please keep them in your thoughts,” the Broward County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics wrote on social media alongside a link to the fundraiser.

source: people.com