Shaquille O’Neal comforts family shaken by Thanksgiving crash after being made Sheriff’s ‘deputy’

Shaquille O’Neal rushed to help a family-of-five Thursday after they were involved in a head-on collision while he carried out deputy duty in Florida.

The retired basketball player joined the Broward County Sheriff’s Office on Thanksgiving Day on a mission to hand out turkeys to the needy.

But he but didn’t expect to witness a car crash involving a woman and four young children during the holiday. 

 

This is the moment Shaquille O’Neal leaped into action to help a family who had just been involved in a crash

The basketball star was on his way to a turkey giveaway when he witnessed the accident scene on November 22

The basketball star was on his way to a turkey giveaway when he witnessed the accident scene on November 22

Shaq, who was riding in a squad car at the time, was just about to reach the turkey handout when he witnessed the crash in Broward County, Florida

Shaq, who was riding in a squad car at the time, was just about to reach the turkey handout when he witnessed the crash in Broward County, Florida

O’Neal, 46, was seen comforting the shaken-up group as a team filmed his day with law enforcement as an auxiliary deputy with Sheriff Israel. 

A Facebook page for the team that shared the clip explained how the former sports star, now known for his on-screen appearances among the very young, immediately tried his best to distract them from the scary incident.

‘They came upon a car accident in their travels around the county and Deputy Shaq sprang into action to cheer up the kids,’ BCO wrote on the social media website.

A one point the 7ft 1in star, aged 46, was recorded holding the hand of one of the boys and asking if he was alright while the parent made calls to pertaining to the two-car collision.  

He was working alongside members of the Broward County Sheriff's Office after he was recently made an auxiliary deputy

He was working alongside members of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office after he was recently made an auxiliary deputy

The sports superstar immediately leapt into action and rushed to the family's side

Shaquille O'Neal

The sports superstar immediately leaped into action and rushed to the family’s side

The youngsters looked shocked after the dangerous incident then had the added surprise of the famous face attending the scene during his high-profile appearance. 

One of the children being held by a member of O’Neal’s entourage was then passed over to the parent and was videoed crying as mayhem surrounded them.

The black vehicle was severely crushed at the and the gray motor had a huge dent in the side suggesting it had been T-boned. 

He was then seen on film trying to comfort a number of young children who appeared visibly shaken by the incident

He was then seen on film trying to comfort a number of young children who appeared visibly shaken by the incident

O'Neal and his crew helped relieve the guardian of her caring role while she sorted out the necessities

O’Neal and his crew helped relieve the guardian of her caring role while she sorted out the necessities

The woman was visibly emotional following the collision

The woman was visibly emotional following the collision

He donned a green Broward Sheriff T-shirt to carry out his duty

He donned a green Broward Sheriff T-shirt to carry out his duty

It’s not clear who was in each vehicle involved but footage shows the airbag was inflated on the driver’s side of the gray car.

While he’s an NBA Hall of Fame figure, he was on his way to the American Police Hall of Fame & Museum in Titusville to give out free birds one Turkey Day.  

Many of the grateful receivers couldn’t believe their good fortune as they were handed food by O’Neal who they thanked and affectionately referred to as ‘Shaq’.

Following the crash, Shaq then continued with his original objective - handing out turkeys to people in need

Following the crash, Shaq then continued with his original objective – handing out turkeys to people in need

Those accepting the offering thanked the star and had huge grins on their faces 

Those accepting the offering thanked the star and had huge grins on their faces 

Shaq was handing out turkeys on Thanksgiving Day much to the delight of fans

Shaq was handing out turkeys on Thanksgiving Day much to the delight of fans

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