A Redding man is making a remarkable recovery after losing his leg when he was hit by a car.

The immediate reaction of Zach Devine, 25, may have saved his life.

"I just happened to call him, and I didn't expect the kind of conversation I had with him," said Zach's uncle, Tom Devine.

Tom Devine says he was on the phone with Zach on Dec. 28 right after Zach was hit by an uninsured driver outside his truck in New Canaan.

"He asked his partner who was with him to give him his belt so he could make a tourniquet to kind of help himself along a little bit until the first responders arrived. That probably helped save his life," said Tom Devine.

Zach Devine is a West Redding volunteer firefighter and a mechanic by trade. He lost a lot of blood and was taken to Westchester Medical Center and spent a few weeks there.

He lost his left leg from the knee down.

He's now at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare in Wallingford where he plans to get a prosthetic leg in the months ahead.

"His goal is to be able to walk out of there with a smile on his face," said Tom Devine.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help pay for Devine's rising medical costs.

It has already raised about $70,000.

"He's lucky he's got good friends, and a good family and support from a lot of people he doesn't even know," said Tom Devine.

Zach Devine hopes he might be able to someday continue his work as a firefighter.

Police are still investigating the accident. Tom Devine commends the New Canaan Police Department for helping his nephew survive the accident.