A flat tire on a Florida roadside turned serious fast, and three teenagers who stopped to help ended up saving a man’s life.

Diego Fernandez-Delgado, 65, was stranded near South Flamingo Road in Cooper City, Florida, on April 19 after getting a flat tire. His phone battery had died, and he began having severe chest pain and trouble breathing.

His family later said he had prayed for help.

That help came from Cooper City High School students Logan Royer, 16, Cody Magrone, 16, and Brody Murray, 17. The boys had stopped at a nearby McDonald’s after a fishing trip when they saw Fernandez-Delgado alone on the side of the road.

“We saw him on the side of the road and we were like, ‘Let’s go help him,’” Magrone said to WPLG Local 10.

The teens went over to help with the tire, but soon realised something was badly wrong. Fernandez-Delgado looked weak and said he had chest pain and trouble breathing.

One of the boys called 911 while the others stayed with him.

“There’s an old guy on the side of the road. We helped him change his tire and he does not feel good at all,” one of the boys told the dispatcher.

Police body camera footage later showed the teens checking on Fernandez-Delgado and trying to comfort him as they waited for paramedics.

Fernandez-Delgado was taken to Memorial Hospital West, where he underwent several procedures before he was released to recover at home.

His son, Cristian Fernandez-Delgado, said the boys arrived at exactly the right time.

“God didn’t send angels with wings. He sent those boys,” he said.

This week, Cooper City officials honoured Royer, Magrone and Murray at a City Hall meeting. They received a proclamation and a standing ovation for what they did.

Fernandez-Delgado attended the ceremony and thanked the teens in person for saving his life.

For the boys, stopping was an easy decision.

“It doesn’t hurt to stop to help someone out at all,” Royer said. “Anyone, just help them out. It can go a long way.”