A Kansas 'Superman' Lifts Car off Girl

KCTV5.com

OTTAWA, kan. -- A young girl is calling a neighbor a superhero because of what he did when she was trapped beneath a car.

Nick Harris said he doesn't know where he found the strength, but somehow he managed to lift a car off the 6-year-old girl last week, earning himself the title of Superman.

"I just think it's a Christmas miracle," Harris said.

Harris said he has tried time and again to recreate the surprising show of strength that he said surfaced when sheer instinct sent him running to the 6-year-old's aid.

"I just ran over there, I looked, I seen the tire on her, and I lifted the car up to get her out from underneath the car," Harris said. "I don't know how I did it. I've tried three or four times since then."

Harris was dropping off his daughter at Eugene Field Elementary Friday morning when he saw a car back out of a driveway, pinning the girl under its tire. That girl turned out to be his daughter's best friend.

"I was expecting her to have crushed hips," Harris said. "I've had broken toes, because a car just backed over my foot. And here this whole car was on top of her. I wasn't expecting it to turn out as wonderful as it did."

The first-grader was flown to Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City by air ambulance, but didn't have to stay long.

And though some said it was adrenaline that gave Harris his superhuman strength, he said seeing that girl run down the street to give him a hug the next day convinced him there was something special going on.

"They all call me superman now," Harris said. "I'm just a dad. I'm just a dad that was in the right place at the right time. And I was finally able to help and I did something good."

Read more of the story here>>

____________________

Can people really perform Superhuman Feats of Strength?

Adrenaline is a naturally occurring hormone in the body. In response to situations which may be exciting, dangerous or threatening, some people experience an adrenaline rush. Adrenaline also known as epinephrine, is released in such situations and is linked to the 'fight or flight" response.

When epinephrine is released, it creates a super boost of glucose and oxygen, which are sent to the brain and muscles while, other bodily functions are suppressed. This is why some people can perform amazing feats of strength when faced with an emergency.

_____________________