Men who rescued girl from rabid raccoon identified, cleared

NORRISTOWN (WTXF) - Montgomery County Health Department officials have identified and interviewed two Good Samaritans, who helped a young girl being attacked by a rabid raccoon this week.

The incident occurred on Thursday in Lower Merion.

The young girl was walking home from school at 4:00 p.m. through a wooded area on the Bridlewild Trail near Dodds lane in Gladwyne.

While the girl was being attacked by the animal, two men, who were driving by, stopped their vehicle and used a hockey stick to beat the raccoon until it let go of the girl's leg.

The men then drove the girl home, but left before anyone found out who he was.

They have since been identified as James Myers and Rick Turnbull of Northeast Philadelphia.

The raccoon was later captured by the Lower Merion animal control officers and underwent rabies testing.

Early Saturday, officials received word that the raccoon tested positive for rabies.

The men assured health officials they had not come into contact with the raccoon's saliva, and say one of them stood on the animals tail, while the other struck it with the hockey stick until it let go of the girl.

Officials asked the media to spread the word of their search for the men. Myers called FOX 29 after seeing a report about the incident on the evening news, and was put in touch with health officials.