BALAD, IRAQ — A Muslim man has been hailed a hero after his dying sacrifice saved many civilian lives during an ISIS attack in Iraq.

Al-Masdar News reports that during an attack by ISIS militants outside the Sayyed Mohammad Shrine in Balad, local resident Najih Shaker Al-Baldawi saw a suicide bomber about to detonate his explosive vest. He ran to the terrorist and quickly hugged him. Both were killed, with Najih’s body bearing the direct impact of the resulting explosion.

According to the Washington Post, the three ISIS suicide bombers were disguised as military personnel, and opened fire outside the shrine late Thursday afternoon.

Security forces tried to keep the bombers from entering the shrine, and were able to kill one before he could trigger an explosion. Another bomber managed to also detonate his bomb-laden vest.

At least 40 were killed in the attack, and 74 injured. But if not for the heroic man’s sacrifice, the death toll could have been much higher.

Iraq has experienced a bloody week, with the incident coming just days after a deadly attack by ISIS killed 292 people in Baghdad.