A little boy who was savaged by a dog after heroically protecting his younger sister says he's "proud" of his scars.
According to People magazine, seven-year-old Bridger Walker, who hails from Cheyenne in Wyoming, made headlines back in 2020 after he saved his sibling's life from an enraged German Shepherd.
The boy - who was six at the time - managed to drive the dog away but was badly mauled by the animal. He was hospitalized and needed 90 stitches and has been left with scars on the left side of his face as a result
However, in an interview with People, Bridger's father, Robert, claimed that his courageous son does not see his scars as a burden.
Per People, Robert stated: "My wife and I asked him, 'Do you want it to go away?' And he said: 'I don't want it to go all the way away.'
The doting dad continued:
"Bridger views his scar as something to be proud of, but he also doesn't see it as being representative of his brave act. He just perceives it as: 'I was a brother and that's what brothers do.'
"It's a reminder that his sister didn't get hurt, and that she is okay. It almost bothers him sometimes when he's called a hero, because he [thinks], 'Maybe I could have done more to shield her.'"
Bridger managed to become an inadvertent celebrity in the aftermath of the incident when his aunt, Nikki Walker, shared his incredible story in a post made on Instagram.
The post quickly went viral, accruing over 1.5 million likes on the platform and thousands of more comments.
It even attracted the attention of some other real-life superheroes, who were only too happy to praise Bridger for being so bold in the face of danger.
For instance, Captain America star Chris Evans spoke to the child in a heartwarming message, which Nikki also shared on social media.
Other members of the Avengers, such as Brie Larson, Tom Holland, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey Jr also paid tribute to Bridger.
Dermatologists Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali and Dr. Cory B. Maughan also heard about the boy's plight and provided free treatment for his injuries, which have gone some way to easing his recovery.
