Ex-NFL star Braylon Edwards labeled 'GOAT' as he saves 80-year-old man's life in YMCA locker room fight
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
FARMINGTON HILLS, MICHIGAN: In a remarkable act of courage and selflessness, retired NFL star Braylon Edwards has been hailed as a hero after his timely intervention saved the life of an 80-year-old man who was the victim of a vicious assault at a YMCA locker room in Farmington Hills, Michigan.
The former wide receiver, known for his stellar career with teams like the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets, was working out at the facility when he heard a commotion and sprang into action, subduing a 25-year-old assailant who was brutally attacking the elderly victim, as per PEOPLE.
Edwards' heroic actions not only prevented a potential tragedy but also sparked an outpouring of praise and admiration from the internet.
Braylon Edwards heard a commotion in locker room and quickly sprung into action
According to Edwards, the incident unfolded when he heard a commotion in the locker room. "The noise escalates, and then you can hear some pushing and shoving, so you know what fighting sounds like, but once I hear a thud, that's when I got up and turned around," he recounted to NBC affiliate WDIV-TV.
Upon investigating the source of the disturbance, Edwards stumbled upon a horrifying scene. A 25-year-old man was viciously assaulting an 80-year-old resident of West Bloomfield Township, grabbing the elderly victim's hair and preparing to slam his head onto the counter.
Without hesitation, Edwards sprang into action, subduing the assailant and preventing further harm.
"He grabs the back of the victim's head by the hair and he was about to slam it down on the counter," Edwards, the University of Michigan's all-time leading receiver, explained. "I grabbed him, subdued him."
Elderly victim remains in serious but stable condition at a local hospital
As Farmington Hills Police officers arrived at the scene, they found the elderly victim unconscious and suffering from severe facial injuries. Edwards, who had been attacked by the assailant while intervening, provided crucial details to the authorities.
The suspect, initially fleeing on foot, prompted a precautionary lockdown at nearby schools. However, he was eventually apprehended without further incident. The elderly victim was rushed to a local hospital, where he remains in serious but stable condition, according to the Farmington Hills Police Department.
Edwards reflected on his actions with humility, stating, "At the end of the day, I was just, that's what you do," he told WDIV. "People go to work out, they have a good time, they live 80 years, and this isn't how they expect for something maybe [to] take their life."
Internet showers Braylon Edwards with praises for heroic intervention
Edwards' heroic intervention at a local YMCA in Michigan garnered swift praise across the internet. One X user declared, "Braylon’s the GOAT for this." Another user echoed the sentiment, calling Edwards a "modern-day hero" for his courageous response.
A third user expressed faith in humanity, stating, "Superheroes still exist." Another person simply remarked, "Good for him!" A fifth user highlighted Edwards' enduring qualities, writing, "Stud back then, stud still."
Meanwhile, a sixth user offered a hopeful perspective, stating, "Still good people in this world."
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.
