An 18 year-old man from Connecticut is being hailed as a hero after rescuing a mother and her three children from a burning vehicle.

Justin Gavin, 18, was walking to his local Walgreens when he suddenly saw a car catch on fire.

“I’m yelling stop the car! Your car is on fire! Your car is on fire!” Gavin told CNN. “I just felt like if I was in that situation, I would want somebody to help me out. I guess my instincts took over.”

Putting his own life at risk, Gavin chased after the car and eventually caught up to it. Once he did, he pulled the mother out of the driver’s seat first. As the flames got even bigger, he proceeded to pull the three children – 9, 4, and 1 – to safety out of the back seat.

“I was scared ’cause I didn’t know whether the car was gonna blow up at that instant,” Gavin recounted. “It kind of got scary because I didn’t know whether I was going to be able to get everyone out in time. And luckily, I did.”

The mother later credited Gavin with saving all four of their lives. Hours later, Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo presented Gavin with a “challenge coin,” which is one of the city’s highest honors.

“It’s just to acknowledge this heroic act that you conducted today and just a token of my appreciation for you being a great member of this community,” Spagnolo said. “I appreciate it. Thank you very much.”

The police chief added that he hopes the coin reminds Gavin of this heroic day and allows him to reflect on all of the good that came out of it, including saving the lives of an entire family.

“It symbolizes bravery and courage, and the police chief told me whenever I feel like I need some courage or to feel some type of way, like brave… always look back at the coin and think of that day,” Gavin said.

Gavin added that the experience was inspiring for him, and that it changes the entire way that he looks at the police.

“It made me realize life is short,” the teenager said.