Jonathan Smith, a hero who saved an estimated 30 people during the Las Vegas shooting and was shot twice himself, was reunited during a TV interview with the off-duty police officer who ultimately saved Smith's life.
During the emotional CNN interview, reporter Erin Burnett introduced Tom McGrath, who spoke over audio to Smith, an attendee at the country music festival where an attacker fired bullets into the crowd Sunday night, killing 59 people and injuring hundreds more.
As the men spoke, Smith’s voice broke and he reached for a tissue when McGrath called him a hero for his efforts to rescue those who were injured in the shooting.
“Everyone’s been using that word — ‘hero.’ I’ve been saying it since the whole time I got home — I’m not a hero, I’m far from a hero. I think I just did what anybody would do,” Smith told CNN.
“Was it smart? Probably not. But if someone else (was) in the shoes, and they see me, I would want them to come back and at least help me,” Smith continued.
Smith was shot in the arm and neck. Doctors can’t remove the bullet from his neck, and he is in “constant pain,” he told CNN’s Burnett.
Smith called McGrath his “brother” and said McGrath never left his side and helped stop the bleeding until help arrived.
McGrath said Smith showed “tremendous bravery” and that he did a ”wonderful job” during the shooting.
McGrath said he remembered most that “nobody suffered alone” during the shooting, and that people helped each other or held each other no matter how badly they were hurt.
“I think that’s the takeaway from the whole entire situation,” McGrath said.
Twitter users lauded Smith for his efforts during the shooting.
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