Attending sporting events comes with a certain level of risk, although that risk is relatively low. Between foul balls at baseball games and rogue pucks at hockey games, accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. Thankfully for one mom and her young son, a stranger's heroic reflexes prevented a serious injury from occurring.
Asia Davis and her son, Nasir, were at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 11 watching the Cleveland Monsters face off against the Laval Rocket, Cleveland News 5 reported. A puck flew over the glass barrier, heading directly to their seats. Davis captured the terrifying moment on her phone, including when a stranger sitting next to them stuck out his arm to block the puck from hitting her son in the head.
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The mom posted a TikTok video of the mystery man shielding her son at the hockey game.
In the a TikTok video, Asia detailed the harrowing incident. She even shared footage of the man heroically blocking the puck from hitting her son. "I owe that man lunch or dinner, another thank you," she said in the clip, instructing in the caption, "TikTok do your thing!"
Thus far, the post has racked up more than 3.5 million views.
TikTok users lauded the man for his heroic actions — and helped identify him as Andrew Podalak.
In the comments, TikTok users praised the stranger for his incredible reflexes. One person wrote, "He has 'Dad' energy. Their reaction time is so impressive."
Another TikTok user commented, "I wonder if he's a dad or a really involved uncle! Because that's a superhero dad move hope u find him ."
"I was sitting two rows behind you, and that was a crazy moment! I sure hope you find this sweet man!" someone else wrote.
Yet another person chimed in, writing, "Andrew Podalak is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. I practically raised that boy. He is full of love and kindness. "
Others pointed out the situation sounded like the beginning of an epic romantic story.
As one TikTok user commented, "Algorithm, bring me back in 20 years when the son is talking about how he met his stepdad at a hockey game."
Another person joked, "I owe this man lunch, dinner, another thank-you, maybe a peck on the cheek, possibly a baby, a house, a wedding, a happily ever after.'"
"Ok, but, um, he is really good looking, too. I'm just saying – this is a novel waiting to happen. (Or be written)," another TikToker pointed out.
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The Cleveland Monsters tracked down the mystery man and honored him, the mom, and her son at a hockey game on April 13.
Asia's TikTok video managed to catch the attention of the Cleveland Monsters, which located the "mystery man," Andrew, and invited him, Asia, and Nasir to a game. The trio helped with a ceremonial puck drop ahead of the game and were treated with free seats right behind the glass, Cleveland News 5 reported.
At the game, Andrew and Asia spoke about the scary puck incident.
"My first instinct was to just cover up. I had a couple of other kids sitting behind me as well," Andrew recounted. "So, I just tried jumping in front of it and was able to deflect off my hand and luckily go over top of him and fall behind him."
"Like, I don't know if this is Spider-Man next to me, or who this is, because he was so quick," Asia said. "Like, he saw it before anybody else."
Andrew DMed Asia, telling her, 'Everything happens for a reason.'
As Asia told ABC News 5, she received a private message from Andrew following his impressive save.
She told the news outlet: "I went to sleep, and when I woke up around 10 o'clock in the morning, I had a DM from him, and it just said, 'Everything happens for a reason. I'm glad the little man is OK.' I looked at his profile, and I was like, this is him!
"I was just coming out and trying to enjoy a hockey game, and the next thing you know everything's blowing up on social media," Asia continued. "This, that and the other, and a whole bunch of people contacting me — it's truly a good feeling."
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