Arizona firefighter comforts distressed boy at scene of car crash by reading him a book

The image has been shared more than 2,000 times on Facebook

Russell Whaley comforting Lucas Pacheco after a car crash (Facebook)

A poignant photograph taken in Arizona shows a firefighter reading a book to a four-year-old boy involved in a car crash.

Steffani Blair posted the image on Facebook, showing Arizona firefighter, Russell Whaley, sitting with four-year-old Lucas Pacheco after he was involved in the incident alongside his mother and two-year-old sister.

Posted by Steffani Blair on Friday, 18 December 2015

After the crash, Lucas became “worried and scared” as medics treated his injured mother and sister. Mr Whaley stepped in to help calm him by reading him a book.

Shana Blair, the boy’s mother, told TODAY: “My son started getting worried and scared. He was nervous seeing me with an oxygen mask and all this stuff on me.

“The whole crew stayed with us until my husband got there and was able to take us home. They obviously didn't have to do that; I'm sure they had other calls.”

Mr Whaley added: “He was wearing a Ninja Turtles T-shirt, so we started talking about that.

“And the next thing I know, we have a book in front of us and he’s sitting on my lap and we’re reading a book on the side of the freeway.

"That's part of our job. A lot of times we're dealing with emotional needs. It's not just putting out a fire, or putting a Band-Aid on a wound. I'm proud of our guys for doing that."

Neither Ms Pacheco nor her daughter were severely injured in the crash. The two-year-old suffered seat belt burns and some bruising.

The image has since been shared over 2,000 times on social media, with Ms Blair adding: “Be kind to our first responders, they have a tough job, and they do it EXCEPTIONALLY well. Grateful to have witnessed this sweet tender mercy today.”