Holly MatkinCheyenne, WY – A heroic six-year-old boy was bitten in the face by a German shepherd mix while selflessly saving his little sister from being attacked.
The horrific encounter occurred on July 9, when six-year-old Bridger Walker saw the dog charging towards his younger sister, the Casper Star Tribune reported.
He immediately jumped in between the dog and his sister, but was unable to run away with her before the animal bit him repeatedly on his head and face.
The little boy then grabbed his sister’s hand and got them both to safety, his aunt, Nicole Walker, said in an Instagram post.
“After receiving 90 stitches (give or take) from a skilled plastic surgeon, he’s finally resting at home,” Nicole Walker wrote.
Bridger was clearly aware that the situation could have turned out much differently.
“If someone had to die, I thought it should be me,” he said after the attack, according to his aunt.
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In her post, Nicole tagged several Hollywood actors who have played roles as superheroes.
“We love our brave boy,” she wrote. “I know it’s a long shot, but I’m reaching out to the Avengers and other heroes so that they can learn about this latest addition to their ranks.”
The story of the little boy’s heroic act quickly went viral, garnering over 1.4 million Instagram likes so far.
“People who put the well being of others in front of themselves are the most heroic and thoughtful people I know,” Hollywood “Hulk” actor Mark Ruffalo wrote in response to the post, according to the Casper Star Tribune.
“I truly respect and admire your courage and your heart,” Ruffalo said. “Real courage isn’t dominating people or fighting against people or walking around like a tough guy. Real courage is knowing what is right to do and doing it, even when it might end up hurting you somehow.”
On Wednesday, Nicole Walker posted a video that showed Bridger and his sister watching a personal message from “Captain America” actor Chris Evans.
“Hey Bridger – Captain America here – how you doing, buddy?” Evans asked the little boy, who was fully decked-out in his Captain America costume at the time. “Pal, you’re a hero. What you did was so brave, so selfless. Your sister is so lucky to have you as a big brother! Your parents must be so proud of you!”
Evans then vowed to send Bridger “an authentic Captain America shield.”
“You deserve it,” he said. “Keep being the man you are. We need people like you.”
Bridger’s little sister was especially excited to hear that her brother would be receiving a shield.
“You can take it wherever you go!” she squealed.
Bridger received a phone call from “Spider-Man” actor Tom Holland on Thursday. Towards the end of the call, Holland invited the little boy to come “hang out” at the set of “Spider-Man 3.”
“Iron Man” actor Robert Downey Jr. rang Bridger on Friday.
“Bridger, you’re a rock star,” Downey said. “You call me on your next birthday – I’ve got something special for you.”
“Captain Marvel” actor Brie Larson, Academy Award-winner Octavia Spencer, and “Hawkeye” actor Jeremy Renner also reached out to Bridger in the past several days, along with countless Instagram users around the world, Insider reported.
Additional details regarding the dog attack are being kept private at the request of Bridger’s family and the owner of the dog, the Casper Star Tribune reported.
Although Bridger didn’t want anything to happen to the one-year-old rescue animal, the owners opted to have it humanely euthanized.
“We humbly request that you keep the dog’s owners in your prayers and forego any superficial judgments — because we love them,” the little boy’s family said in a press release, according to the Casper Star Tribune.
Sandy Malone
