Everyone in an ideal world would have the natural instinct to help others in their hour of need. Unfortunately, we don’t live in an ideal world, so many people freeze in emergencies or react too slowly to a successful outcome. Valerio Catoia, a young Italian man with Down’s syndrome, is one boy who has no problem with rushing to help strangers.

Recently, he was hailed for risking his life by saving a girl who drowned at sea. He’s celebrated rightly for the hero that he is.

Since he was little, Valerio has always liked swimming. He even competed at the Special Olympics after pushing himself to the very limits in the pool and thus perfecting his discipline. One day he was present at a beach in Sabaudia, in Lazio province, Italy. He was enjoying the good weather and the cool ocean with his father. He knew little about the events that would call for his skills.

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One moment things were normal, the next Valerio and his father were hearing yells for help from two sisters, one aged 14, the other just 10. A strong current was sweeping them out to sea.

Valerio didn’t stop for a second. Instead, he threw himself into the sea beside his father and began swimming to the rescue. He soon reached the younger sister and performed a rescue manoeuvre he’d learned on a course.

He carried the girl to the beach while keeping her head above water. His father, meanwhile, did the same with the older sister, according to ABC.

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When they landed on the beach the lifeguards assumed control of the situation. Make no mistake, though; it was Valerio and his father who saved the sisters from an extremely dangerous situation.

Overnight, Valerio became a recognized hero, celebrated in the press.