When three Florida teenagers decided to stop at McDonald’s during their fishing trip, they had no idea they would become lifesavers. What began as a simple act of kindness—helping a stranger fix a flat tire—quickly turned into a race against time as the man suffered a heart attack right before their eyes.
On April 19, Logan Royer, 16, Cody Magrone, 16, and Brody Murray, 17, pulled into a McDonald’s parking lot on South Flamingo Road in Cooper City, Florida, intending to grab food before their fishing outing. That’s when they spotted Diego Fernandez-Delgado, a 65-year-old man struggling with a flat tire on the roadside. With his phone battery dead and no way to contact anyone, Fernandez-Delgado was stranded.
From flat tire to medical emergency
“We were just out fishing and we stopped to get a bite to eat,” Magrone said. “We saw him on the side of the road and we were like let’s go help him.”
While two of the teens began working on the tire, Logan noticed alarming symptoms. Fernandez-Delgado sat in the passenger seat, sweating profusely, breathing heavily, and struggling to speak. He complained of chest pains.
“It was very shocking to me… I thought he was having a heatstroke at first,” Logan said.
Recognizing the severity of the situation, Logan immediately dialed 911. In audio released by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Logan can be heard telling the dispatcher, “There’s an old guy on the side of the road. We’re helping change his tire, and he does not feel good at all.”
Emergency response saves a life
Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue personnel arrived promptly and transported Fernandez-Delgado to Memorial Hospital West, where he underwent multiple procedures. Officials credited the teenagers’ swift action with saving the man’s life.
Bodycam footage captured a responding officer expressing gratitude to the young men before they departed. “Hey, thanks again, guys. You guys are awesome, man. Appreciate it,” the officer said, giving one of them a fist-bump.
A prayer answered in an unexpected way
Fernandez-Delgado later revealed he had been praying for help as his condition deteriorated on that roadside, unable to complete the tire repair or summon assistance.
“When I saw that I couldn’t do it anymore, you lose hope,” Fernandez-Delgado said. “And then I heard their voices.”
His son Cristian offered a powerful perspective on the timing of events. “God didn’t send angels with wings. He sent those boys,” Cristian said.
The teenagers themselves recognized something larger at work. “I think it was very lucky. It’s just right place, right time. Maybe God put us there to help this guy out,” Brody Murray said.
Logan shared similar sentiments. “I was really like, wow. We actually did that. And God sent us to help that guy. It was very, very, like, a miracle,” he said.
Recognition for heroic actions
The Cooper City commission honored the three teenagers with a proclamation during a special session on May 12, where they received a standing ovation from the community.
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office released a statement emphasizing the importance of their intervention. “Their actions serve as a powerful reminder: sometimes, the difference between life and death starts with simply choosing to step in and help.”
Fernandez-Delgado has since returned home and continues his recovery, forever grateful to the three young men who stopped when it mattered most.
“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.” — Psalm 145:18
