Amid the chaos of the tragic events that unfolded outside Mandalay Bay last Sunday night, countless acts of bravery emerged. One man, in particular, experienced a surprise reunion with the person who played a pivotal role in saving his life—a moment he will never forget.
Tom Anderson was shot in the leg while escaping the rain of gunfire from Stephen Paddock’s 32nd-floor suite. In a senseless act, Paddock ended the lives of 58 individuals and left over 500 injured. However, thanks to the quick actions of fellow concertgoer Mark Thompson, Anderson became one of the fortunate survivors.
During an emotional interview with anchor Lisa Miller, Anderson recounted the harrowing experience. Like many others, he initially mistook the sounds of gunfire for celebratory fireworks before realizing the gravity of the situation. After helping his wife and another woman climb over a wall to safety, he was struck by a bullet. “By the time I made it over that wall, my pants were drenched, and my shoe was filled with blood,” he shared, recalling the frantic moments.
Despite his injury, Anderson managed to get himself over the wall, but it was Thompson, an Army Reservist, who stepped in to apply a tourniquet correctly to his wounded leg. “He was actively bleeding when I found him,” Thompson said, recalling how he had to adjust the tourniquet to stop the blood flow. “We hung out there for 10-15 minutes until a good Samaritan in a pickup truck came along to help.”
Thompson, with over a decade of service and recent EMT certification, joked, “I never thought I’d need my training until that night.” Not only did he provide essential first aid, but he also offered much-needed reassurance to Anderson, who was terrified about losing his foot. “He was calm and really cool about everything,” Anderson said. “I was completely freaking out.”
As for Anderson’s recovery, he mentioned that his leg still aches with the bullet lodged in his calf, and he may need further surgery. However, he knows his situation would have been far worse without Thompson’s decisive intervention. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Mark. I’m incredibly grateful he was there,” he expressed.
In true hero fashion, Thompson downplays his actions, highlighting that many others were also running back into danger to assist those in need. “There were so many people doing heroic things that night,” he noted. “There have to be hundreds of stories like ours.”
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In summary, the bond formed between Anderson and Thompson during a traumatic event showcases the incredible strength of human connection and resilience. Their reunion serves as a poignant reminder of the bravery exhibited by countless individuals in times of crisis.