Oregon Teen Heroically Saved a Baby from Electrocution – Majiah Washington

In a moment of bravery and selflessness, an 18-year-old teenager from Portland, Oregon, risked her life to save a baby from electrocution. Majiah Washington, a daycare worker, witnessed a tragic incident unfold during an ice storm in her neighborhood. A power line had fallen on a car, causing the deaths of three individuals who came into contact with the live wire. However, Washington didn’t hesitate to jump into action and rescue the baby, demonstrating incredible heroism.

A Fateful Morning

It all began on a cold Wednesday morning when back-to-back ice storms had ravaged Oregon, leaving a trail of fallen trees and power lines. Majiah Washington was at home, in bed, when she noticed a sudden flash outside her window. Curiosity piqued, she opened the blinds and was met with a shocking sight – a power line had toppled onto a vehicle parked nearby.

“At first, I wasn’t really too sure what it was, so I kind of opened the blinds and then … I realized it was the electricity pole. I was standing there and it made another, like, loud pop.”

A Tragic Turn of Events

Without hesitation, Washington rushed outside to assess the situation. She saw the baby’s father attempting to place the child in the car, unaware of the danger that lay ahead. As he slipped and fell, his foot came into contact with the live wire, causing a small fire and emitting smoke. Tragically, the father succumbed to the electric shock, leaving the baby in a perilous situation.

“He swaddled the baby in his arms, he was walking up the driveway and he slipped, he fell backwards and the bottom of his foot had touched the line. It caught a little fire, and it was smoking and then that was it. Nothing after that.”

Majiah Washington at a Press Conference   at the Portland Fire & Rescue headquarters on Thursday, Jan 18, 2024

The Courageous Rescue

As Washington watched in horror, a woman, the mother who was 6 months pregnant, also rushed to the scene to check on the baby. Unfortunately, she too slipped and was electrocuted. Amid the chaos, Washington dialed 911, desperately seeking help. While on the phone with the emergency operator, a teenager, the 15 year old brother, ran past her to assist but tragically met the same fate. With her neighbors lying motionless and in danger, Washington knew she had to act swiftly to save the baby.

“I was concerned about the baby. Nobody was with the baby. I wasn’t thinking, like, ‘Oh, I could be electrocuted,’ I was more so thinking, ‘I have to grab this baby.’”

A Life-Saving Act

Ignoring the potential danger to herself, Washington approached the fallen power line with caution. She remained low, careful not to slide into the wire, and inched closer to the baby. Surprisingly, the child was still nestled in his father’s arms, showing signs of life. Without hesitation, Washington reached out and grabbed the baby, successfully extricating him from harm’s way.

“I have little brothers, I would hope somebody would do the same thing,” Washington reflected on her heroic act, still in disbelief over the tragic incident.

Praise for a Hero

Rick Graves, spokesperson for Portland Fire and Rescue, commended Washington for her incredible bravery. At a news conference held in honor of her heroism, he acknowledged that the baby’s survival was due in large part to her selfless actions. Despite the loss of three lives, the community found solace in the knowledge that the young child would continue to thrive because of Washington’s intervention.

“We do have fortunately with us a toddler that is going to be able to thrive and do what they possibly can as they move forward. And they are here, in part, because of the heroic acts of a member of our community.”

The Hazards of an Ice Storm

The ice storms that ravaged Oregon had caused widespread devastation and claimed multiple lives. Falling trees and power lines became a dangerous byproduct of the extreme weather conditions. In the case of the fallen power line incident, a large branch snapped from a tree, landing on the utility wires and pushing one onto the vehicle, resulting in the tragic deaths of three individuals.

In the face of such a devastating tragedy, the community has rallied together to support the grieving families. Ronald Briggs, the neighbor of Washington’s and the father of the victims, expressed his heartbreak over losing two of his children in a single day.

“I told him, ‘Don’t go down there — try to get away from them.’ And he slid, and he touched the water, and he, and he died too. I have six kids. I lost two of them in one day. It just hurt. Being a good father cannot solve this right now.”

Despite the sorrow that lingers in the wake of this tragedy, Majiah Washington’s actions serve as a beacon of hope. Her heroic act in the face of danger demonstrates the capacity for courage and compassion within the human spirit. Her intervention saved a young life, reminding us of the power of selflessness and the ability to make a difference, even in the most challenging circumstances.

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