Woman sees little girl about to be 'kidnapped', pretends to be her mother to save her

A woman is being hailed a ‘hero’ for saving a little girl from being kidnapped on her way to school.

Amy Martinez was on her way to school in Santa Ana, California when a woman approached.

Speaking to KTLA 5, the Lathrop Intermediate student recalled how the woman, identified by police as Claudia Hernandez Diaz, allegedly tried to walk her away.

She just came up to me and went like this [Martinez simulates a bear hug]. And then she started walking with me away.

Picture: KTLA 5 screengrab 

Amy said she screamed for help.

She told me in Spanish not to cry, but I wasn’t even crying.

A quick-thinking woman who was dropping her child off to school noticed what was happening and intervened.

She told Diaz that the little girl was her daughter and demanded she let the girl go. She took Martinez to the school and called the police.

Martinez says the woman who saved her is a "hero".

I was thinking, 'Oh my gosh, I'm going to live

Diaz, who was described as "homeless" was arrested.

Santa Ana police department has been contacted for further details.

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