A seven-year-old boy who bravely stepped in front of a vicious dog to protect his younger sister feels proud of the scars he got from the incident.
While visiting a friend’s house in Wyoming in July 2020, Bridger Walker and his four-year-old sister played in the backyard when a one-year-old German Shepherd mix suddenly attacked them.
Bridger’s parents told NBC News that despite being only six years old at the time, Bridger didn’t hesitate to shield his sister, resulting in the dog biting him in the face.
The boy required ninety stitches to close the wound, which left him with severe facial scars. Since then, he has undergone multiple surgeries to heal the injury.
Bridger said, “I believed that if anyone had to die, it should be me.”
The now seven-year-old child remains firm in his beliefs. His father, Robert Walker, shared that his son isn’t bothered by his scar and takes pride in it.
“My wife and I asked him, ‘Do you want it to disappear?’” Robert recalled.
“But he replied, ‘I don’t want it to disappear entirely.’”
In an interview with People, the father of five shared, “Bridger is proud of his scar, but he doesn’t view it as a mark of the brave thing he did. He explains his actions by saying, ‘I was just being a brother, and that’s what brothers do.’ His sister remains safe and unharmed, which matters to him.”
His aunt, Nikki Walker, shared the story with everyone. In an Instagram post, she praised her courageous nephew, stating, “My nephew is a hero for defending his little sister from a vicious dog.”
She added, “He protected his sister from the dog’s bite by taking the hit himself.” When asked about it later, he explained, “I figured that if someone had to die, it should be me.”
He was discharged from the hospital and came home last night. I know it might be a bit of a long shot, but I’m trying to reach out to the Avengers and other heroes to let them know about their newest member.
She tagged several “superhero” celebrities in her post, including Robert Downey Jr., known for playing Ironman, and Chris Evans, who portrayed Captain America. In response, these stars made video messages expressing their gratitude to the young hero for his bravery.
However, Bridger’s father mentioned that his son isn’t particularly thrilled about being called a hero.
“It almost makes him sad when people refer to him as a hero because he thinks, ‘Maybe I should have done more to protect her,’” he said. Sometimes, being labeled a hero nearly upsets him.
The family is grateful and pleased that so many of their son’s heroes have reached out to offer support.
Chris Evans’ video was fantastic, and he even sent over the shield. Bridger’s father mentioned, “Bridger was overjoyed.” He added, “When he spoke to Tom Holland, he was probably the most star-struck since it was a live call, so it made an impression on him… His emotional recovery was greatly supported by a global effort, and we deeply appreciated that.”
Despite having undergone numerous procedures, Bridger still requires additional treatment. After learning about his story, Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali, a dermatologist who agreed to provide treatment at no cost and bring him to his New York clinic, said, “We still need to address some of the surface redness, but overall, everything looks significantly improved.”
“I’ve always told Robert that I don’t want Bridger to relive this experience every day when he’s in middle or high school; I want it to be a story he shares instead,” said the kind physician.
“I believe this will be the case.” He also mentioned, “Anne Hathaway and Mark Ruffalo are among the other Hollywood stars who have reached out to us.
Bridger is an incredibly brave young man; his selfless act is a model for others, and I’m glad to see he’s recovering well and receiving the love and care he truly deserves.”
