ladbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Man Saved Dozens Of People During Las Vegas Shooting Before Getting Shot Himself

Man Saved Dozens Of People During Las Vegas Shooting Before Getting Shot Himself

He suffered a fractured collarbone, cracked rib and bruised lung during the attack

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Thousands of people ran for their lives or ducked for cover when shooter Stephen Paddock unleashed a spray of bullets from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Hotel in Las Vegas. The majority of people did everything they could to get out of the attack alive, however there were a few people who risked their own lives to ensure the safety of others.

One man in particular is reported to have rescued dozens of people from the shooter, before taking a bullet himself.

Jonathan Smith
Jonathan Smith

Credit: Heather Long / Washington Post

Jonathan Smith was among the 22,000 people at the Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival. But when the bullets began raining down on the concert-goers, the 30-year-old grabbed his nieces and tried to run.

However, they all got separated and the copy machine repairman ran back into the crowd to find them, and to help others who couldn't move out of fear.

He reportedly kept shouting: 'Active shooter, let's go!' to everyone who could have been in the line of fire. Smith found a group of young girls and raced towards them to usher them to safety, but just before he arrived, he was hit in the neck by a bullet.

Jonathan Smith
Jonathan Smith

Credit: GoFundMe

Jonathan has told the Washington Post: "I couldn't feel anything in my neck. There was a warm sensation in my arm."

The 30-year-old suffered a fractured collarbone, cracked rib and bruised lung, but doctors have decided to leave the bullet inside his neck because they fear it could cause more damage by removing it.

He says an off-duty police officer helped him once he'd been shot, by helping stop the blood flowing from his neck as well as trying to get motorists to take him to a hospital. Smith was eventually placed in the back of a pickup truck with other injured victims and taken to get treatment.

Jonathan has been heralded as a hero for helping people who might not have made it out of the attack alive if it wasn't for his cool headedness - according to a tweet by Washington Post correspondent Heather Long, he was responsible for saving the lives of around 30 people.

Las Vegas shooting
Las Vegas shooting

Credit: PA

He says he was just trying to do his best, telling the Post: "I don't see myself that way. I would want someone to do the same for me. No one deserves to lose a life coming to a country festival."

Jonathan's sister-in-law Crystal Jones has started a GoFundMe page to help pay for some of the hero's medical bills and subsequent living costs. Tiffany updated everyone on his condition, saying: "From the bottom of my heart, I wanted to thank you all for your acts of giving. It does not go unnoticed. I wanted to also confirm that Jonathan is at home with his girlfriend and children and is currently taking a much deserved rest. He arrived safely last night."

Fifty-nine people have been killed in the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history, with more than 500 injured. Shooter Stephen Paddock was found to have nearly two dozen weapons inside his hotel room, and a further 19 at his home in Mesquite, Nevada.

Credit: Washington Post, GoFundMe

Featured Image Credit: Heather Long/Washington Post

Topics: hero, Las Vegas