A desperate and heart-wrenching Facebook post may have saved the life of one father in Logan County, West Virginia.
Last Tuesday, Gregory Vance was sitting on his porch with two friends as a violent storm swept through their neighborhood. The strong winds felled a large tree, and it landed on the three men, trapping them under the trunk, according to WOWK.
Vance's girlfriend and his two children, who were sheltered inside their home, frantically called out to him but received no answer, the outlet reported.
The family's cell phone service was down due to the storm and they don't have a landline. It seemed like they had no way to get help.
That's when Vance's 10-year-old daughter, Brianna, had an ingenious idea.
She realized she could still get online using their Wi-Fi, so she recorded a cell phone video of herself pleading for help and posted it to Facebook, KTRK reported.
"The lightning crashed and hit a tree by our porch, and my dad's almost dead," Brianna says in the video, as tears stream down her face. "He needs an ambulance please. Please call one for us if you have signal. We live in a yellow house."
Someone saw the child's panicked plea and contacted 911. Shortly after, firefighters arrived and freed the trapped men, WOWK reported.
"I was scared. I needed help. My dad needed help," Brianna told the outlet. "So I had to post that."
Her father and his friends were taken Logan Regional Hospital. His friends were released quickly, while Vance was treated for a broken collar bone and five broken ribs. KTRK reported that he returned home on Father's Day.
"I love you, dad, and I'm so happy you are home and happy to be your helper," Brianna reportedly posted to Facebook.
The 10-year-old has since been lauded for keeping a clear head under pressure.
"This is the real hero, that little girl," Henlawson Fire Department Lt. Tim Granger told ABC News, "And I hope she gets recognized for her heroism."
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