'Machete' star Danny Trejo rescued a child trapped in car wreck

Machete actor Danny Trejo became a hero in real life yesterday, rushing to the aid of a child who was trapped in a car after a crash in Los Angeles.

According to ABC7, two cars collided in Sylmar, California, with one flipping onto its roof, with a five-year-old inside strapped into a seat.

The 75-year-old actor rushed to the scene and crawled through the window into the car to try and pull the child out, but could not release the belt buckle.

Read more: Nicolas Cage went on a quest for the Holy Grail

He was then joined by a young woman who crawled in from the other side and was able to undo the belt while Trejo grabbed the child and pulled him to safety.

Reporters from ABC were shocked to find Trejo at the scene, interviewing him about the incident, which he said he believed was caused by a car going through a red light.

Trejo said he then took the boy and distracted him while his grandmother, who was driving the car, was well enough to have him back.

Three people were taken to hospital, but none suffered life-threatening injuries.

Advising drivers, Trejo told reporters: “Pay attention. And the only thing that saved that little kid was his car seat, honest to God.”

Read more: Culkin on the Home Alone reboot plans

He added: “Everything good that has happened to me has happened as a direct result of helping someone else.”

Trejo turned to acting in the mid-80s, after serving many years in prison, where he learned to box.

He went on to appear in movies like Heat, From Dusk till Dawn, Con Air and Desperado, as well as starring as Machete, aka ex-Mexican federale Isador Cortez, in the Spy Kids movies and his own spin-offs, Machete and Machete Kills.

As well as a career in movies, he's also starred in shows like Breaking Bad, Brooklyn Nine Nine and Sons of Anarchy.

Aside from his acting, Trejo also owns his own chain of restaurants in Los Angeles, Trejo's Tacos and Trejo's Coffee & Donuts.