Jon Candelaria is being hailed as a hero for pulling a man out of rushing floodwaters during Superstorm Sandy. He did what most hope to have the courage to do in a life or death emergency.

The 25-year-old father was in his family's Upper East Side apartment on Monday night when he looked out the window and saw an SUV taxi lifted by the powerful force of water beneath it.

Candelaria, who is a waiter in New York City, went to save the driver who was nearly drowning. The water was up to Candelaria's chest, but he managed to pry open the door, with the driver's help, just in time.

(WATCH the story below, from CNN's Anderson Cooper 360)