Today on 'Anderson'

Brandon Wright is reunited with his heroes


Updated: 9:01 am | Published: 11/08 7:51 pm

Reported by: Kylie Conway

LOGAN, Utah (ABC 4 News) – 21-year-old Brandon Wright doesn’t like the spotlight. He has a long way to go in his recovery. But Wright paused for a moment to fly to New York to tell his story to Anderson Cooper and be reunited with his heroes for the first time since that frightful morning.

Wright has a long road to recovery. He still sits in a wheelchair and endures hours of physical therapy each week. Still, this is leaps and bounds better than the other possible outcome the morning of September 12th just outside Utah State University’s campus.

A black BMW pulled out in from of Wright. Wright laid his bike over and was trapped beneath the twisted metal inferno.

That’s when about a dozen good samaritans came to the rescue.

“I have no idea where our power came from,” said one of the rescuers Abbass al Sharif.

Albeit strenuous physical therapy, Wright is alive and well. Video captures about a dozen men and women working side by side to lift a nearly two-ton car off of Brandon’s lifeless body and dragging him away from the blaze.

“It's unreal to me that they, that car could've blown up at any time... and how brave they are is crazy.... I'm forever in debt to them,” said Wright outside the hospital still clad in his in hospital gown, with oxygen tubes and in a wheelchair.

Anderson Cooper’s entire interview with Brandon airs Wednesday, November 9th at 4 p.m on CW-30. But, ABC 4 News got a preview:

ANDERSON: “When you see this video now with the burning car, the burning bike and the people trying to help, what goes through your mind?”

BRANDON: “I don't like to watch it to be honest.”

ANDERSON: “You don't?”

BRANDON: “No. It's really weird to see. I mean, it's on one hand I kind of view it like everyone else does in that it's completely amazing, and all the heroes that saved my life, and it's an endearing and a great story. On the other hand, it's just so weird city yourself being a rag doll and pulled from a car.”

Even the man behind the camera that Monday morning didn’t think Brandon had a chance.

“My heart sunk dramatically. I mean you see a limp body and you think that person is dead,” said Chris Garff, who by chance caught the entire rescue on tape.

Then the unimaginable happens. You can see Wright move his arm, then lift it and pat a first responder on the shoulder as if to say thanks. Brandon was alive and he has the selfless, brave souls who risked their lives to save his. And for the first time, Wright was able to look them in the eyes and tell them so.

ANDERSON: “Brandon, what is it you want to say to these people?”

BRANDON: “Everyone asks me that question, and it's so hard to answer because what do you say? Obviously, I've told you guys, I want to say thanks and I love you all. I can't say enough. It's really, really hard.”

You can catch the entire Anderson Cooper 360 [Oops! They meant to say just 'Anderson'] with Brandon Wright Wednesday, November 9th at 4 p.m. on the CW-30 [in Logan, Utah].