Texas Man Who Spent 20 Years in Prison Saves 2 Lives in 6 Weeks: ‘I Didn’t Even Think About It’
Jacob Bell, who served 20 years for burglary, said the experiences have helped him build self-confidence
A Texas man who spent 20 years in prison has allegedly saved two lives in the last two months.
Jacob Bell, of Ellis County, was sentenced to 35 years behind bars after he was convicted of burglary in 1996, according to NBC affiliate KXAS-TV.
But six years after he was released from prison, Bell found himself saving not just one, but two lives — only six weeks apart.
“It’s been pretty amazing, the randomness of it,” Bell told the station.
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First, in August, Bell rescued a drowning swimmer at Lake Waxahachie, PEOPLE previously reported. He was able to get the girl to shore before going back to try and save her 21-year-old friend Lincer Lopez, who did not survive.
Bell told KXAS-TV he is still heartbroken over Lopez’s death, having recovered the young man’s body from the lake.
The Texas man sprang back into action in early October when he spotted a car in Comanche County that had caught fire and was sitting upside down beside a telephone pole.
A 72-year-old man was inside the car at the time, according to the report. Bell smashed a window before pulling the driver to safety.
“For me, I didn’t even think about it,” said Bell. “I knew I could physically get him out of there, and I was going to do it.”
After getting the man on the ground, Bell told the outlet he “felt for a pulse” but “couldn’t feel anything.” He then performed CPR and got a “faint pulse” about 10 seconds later.
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The man began to breathe again at the scene and was eventually transported to a hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation and broken ribs.
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Bell said these rescues have helped him regain confidence in himself. He told the station, “This has really shown me that it’s possible to give back and to feel good about yourself, and that means something."