Teen becomes SWFL social media hero

LEHIGH ACRES, Fla.- One woman’s Facebook post is making a Southwest Florida teen a social media hero.

Patricia Ratliff says she witnessed a high school freshman’s act of kindness, and couldn’t wait to share it.

“It’s just most of the kids these days, they don’t do that,” she said. “They don’t stop to think ‘oh, let’s help somebody without getting anything in return.'”

Fourteen-year-old Riley Guertin gained a following on Facebook after going out of his way to help a pregnant woman in need.

Guertin says he saw a woman, standing next to Ratliff, stranded in the parking lot of the East County Library with a flat tire. Even with a large crowd of people around, no one offered to help.

“She would have probably just waited, no one else would have helped her,” he said.

He stepped in, and sucessfully changed her tire in less than half an hour.

“It was so amazing, he’s only in ninth grade,” said Ratliff. “He put it on, as if it was nothing.”

Ratliff said it was such a kind gesture, she wanted others to learn from his example.

“I hope that the kids around do see that good deeds do happen, and maybe they will step in next time.”

WINK News was not able to confirm the identity of the woman in the photo.