A kayaker in California is being called a hero for helping to rescue a family after their SUV veered off the road and slammed into a concrete mile marker and tree before coming to rest in the middle of a river near Sacramento.

Mark Divittori happened to be kayaking in that part of the river when the mangled vehicle plunged into the river just yards behind him.

Even luckier, a fire truck was just minutes away from the scene.

(READ the story from NBC)