A Hug That Cost This Man His Life But Saved The Lives Of Dozens Of Others
Courage personified.
By Sadho Ram — 11 Jul 2016, 03:36 AM
After the worst ISIS attack earlier this month that claimed 292 lives in Baghdad, suicide bombers and gunmen on 8 July, attacked a Shia shrine in the Iraqi town of Balad, killing at least 35 people
That death toll, however, could have been MUCH HIGHER had it not been for Najih Shaker Al-Baldawi, a local, who reportedly took his own life in order to save the lives of countless other people there
According to Al Masdar News, Al-Baldawi, after noticing the suicide bomber's belt, approached him and hugged him as the ISIS militant tried to make his way to the shrine in Balad. At which moment, the militant detonated his bomb, taking both their lives.
As a result, Al-Baldawi's body absorbed the explosion, mitigating its impact.
Najih Al-Baldawi's selfless and extraordinary sacrifice has been hailed as an act of valour by hundreds of people on Twitter
Let's talk about Najih Al-Baldawi. The man hugged a suicide bomber and died, but saved the lives of those around him.
— Avery Cobb (@_kingcobbler) July 10, 2016
This is Najih Al-Baldawi. He just gave his life to save a bunch of people. Be more like Najih Al-Baldawi. pic.twitter.com/xvMhb1pyUl
— Noel Cobb (@treeofNoeledge) July 10, 2016
Turns out hugs save lives. Hugs are free and don't misfire https://t.co/vFkUFy3EuM
— Jordan Ensminger (@Jordanease) July 10, 2016
Folks like Najih Al-Baldawi represent the good in us that's so often overshadowed by just how awful the world is most of the time.
— Adam (@AdamWhitcroft) July 10, 2016
Courage personified. Najih Al-Baldawi hugged a suicide bomber attempting to blow up a Shrine in Iraq's Balad #RIP pic.twitter.com/0hdUIZrlpc
— Pit Trader (@StoicTrader) July 10, 2016
A moment of respect for Najih Al-Baldawi who hugged a suicide bomber, killing himself but saving the life of dozens. pic.twitter.com/rAxrz4uguo
— Mike Hawkins (@djMikeHawkins) July 10, 2016