Squillante also noted the absence of English speakers in the building. However, he took immediate action by gathering every child he could find and placing them in a crib. The effort became a collaborative one as he maneuvered the crib to the building’s entryway, where Smith was located. Smith, in turn, pushed the cribs across the street, ensuring the babies’ safety and distancing them from the fire.
“It was probably around ten minutes, but it felt like an instant, and thankfully, it turned out okay,” he recounted.
Despite Squillante’s limited Spanish proficiency, he reassured the nursery workers while focused on rescuing the children, repeatedly uttering the calming word ‘Tranquilo.’
Fortunately, other onlookers caught on to the situation and joined in, helping retrieve the remaining children from the nursery.
“We couldn’t speak the language, but there was a universal language — we were all just trying to help,” Smith shared with the Boston Globe.
After the incident, the couple continued with their plans for the day, albeit an hour behind schedule. Reflecting on the experience later, they realized the magnitude of their actions and the fact that they had saved several children’s lives.
“We looked at each other and said, remember that time we saved a bunch of babies?” Smith recalled.
“It felt like we watched it in a movie,” Squillante added.
“It just didn’t feel real.”
While their honeymoon took an unexpected turn, it undoubtedly became a memorable chapter in their lives, and the children they rescued will forever be grateful. Truly, real-life heroes!
