Bridger Walker, a 6-year-old boy in Cheyenne, Wyoming, has received an outpouring of support after he was mauled by a dog while defending his little sister, according to the family. 

Walker jumped in front of the German shepherd mix last week as it charged toward his 4-year-old sister, the family said in a statement. 

• The dog “leaped and latched onto Bridger’s cheek,” causing injuries that required two hours of surgery and more than 90 stitches, the statement said. 

When Bridger’s father asked why he had confronted the dog, the family said the boy replied: "If someone had to die, I thought it should be me."

Nikki Walker, the children’s aunt, first shared Bridger’s heroics in an Instagram post on Monday. 

• She included photos of Bridger and his sister before and after the attack.
• In an update, she said, "His wounds are looking so much better! He’s in great spirits, and his awesome personality is intact."

 

 

 

 

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Hey, all. Please, share my nephew’s story so that it gets as much exposure as it can. We know that our little hero would love some words of encouragement from his favorite heroes. On July 9th, my six year old nephew Bridger saved his little sister’s life by standing between her and a charging dog. After getting bit several times on the face and head, he grabbed his sister’s hand and ran with her to keep her safe. He later said, “If someone had to die, I thought it should be me.” After receiving 90 stitches (give or take) from a skilled plastic surgeon, he’s finally resting at home. We love our brave boy and want all the other superheroes to know about this latest hero who joined their ranks. @tomholland2013 @chrishemsworth @robertdowneyjr @markruffalo @prattprattpratt @twhiddleston @chadwickboseman @vindiesel @chrisevans EDIT: I just finished visiting with Bridger at his home. His wounds are looking so much better! He’s in great spirits, and his awesome personality is intact. He can’t smile too widely yet, but he was grinning as I read some of your comments to him. I’d also like to mention here that the dog’s owners are really great people who have been nothing but kind to Bridger and his family. We feel no resentment toward them at all, and—if anything—there’s only been an increase of love between our families as a result of this incident. EDIT 2: Once again we’re blown away by the amazing comments and messages that Bridger’s receiving. I’ve had lots of inquiries about a GoFundMe. Bridger’s family has asked that any one wishing to help out financially can, instead, donate to @mission_22 or @wwp. Bridger is also a huge fan of Science, especially Geology. So I’m going to start a post where people can share with him pictures of cool rocks that they see. EDIT 3: Once again, everyone’s kindness has meant so much to us. I’m trying to get to all of the messages that I can, but it may take some time. For those who have inquired about sending Bridger some rocks, here’s the address to use: Bridger Walker P.O. Box 22141 Cheyenne, WY 82003 #BridgerStrong

A post shared by Nikki Walker (@nicolenoelwalker) on Jul 12, 2020 at 8:53am PDT

The reaction: The Instagram post went viral, earning 1.2 million likes and circulating widely on social media before making headlines.

Many conservative commentators hailed Bridger as a role model for other boys.

In a tweet that has been liked 1.1 million times, a “very online” family farmer named Kyle said, “This little man is a king.”

Jason Howerton of Blaze Media tweeted that he hoped to raise his sons to be "as much warrior as Bridger."

It’s my challenge as a father to raise two sons who are every bit as much warrior as Bridger.

Well done, tiny hero. https://t.co/YbdhCEfTtB

— Jason Howerton (@jason_howerton) July 15, 2020

Actress Anne Hathaway, U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, a Wisconsin Republican, and NASCAR driver Blake Koch joined many other public figures in praising Bridger as a "hero" or a "superhero."

The World Boxing Council named him an honorary champion “for his brave actions that represent the best values ​​of humanity.”

We are honored to name 6-year-old, Bridger Walker, WBC Honorary Champion, for his brave actions that represent the best values ​​of humanity. Bridger, you're a hero 👏🔰 pic.twitter.com/L2FqL0K4vw

— World Boxing Council (@WBCBoxing) July 15, 2020

Walker tagged Bridger's “favorite heroes” from Marvel movies in her post, and several of them reached out to him, including actor Chris Evans, who promised in a video to send him the shield he uses as Captain America.

 

 

 

 

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There are no words. We are so, so thankful.

A post shared by Nikki Walker (@nicolenoelwalker) on Jul 15, 2020 at 4:36pm PDT

Even Mark Ruffalo, who plays The Hulk and is a critic of “toxic masculinity,” deemed Bridger the right kind of dude.

"Real courage isn't dominating people or fighting against people or walking around like a tough guy," Ruffalo said on Instagram. "Real courage is knowing what is right to do and doing it even when it might end up hurting you somehow."