A family in Austin, Texas, paid tribute to a classic movie with their home's hyper-realistic holiday decorations this year — and they might have been a little too convincing. According to reports, emergency services were called out of concern over the decorations.
As an entry to a neighborhood contest, the Heerlein family recreated a scene from" National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation " in which the character Clark Griswold attempts to hang string lights on the outside of his home, falls off the roof, and has to hang on to the siding.
But, evidently, some thought the Heerleins' mannequin was a little too lifelike.
Speaking to Good Morning America , the Heerleins said that at least one person, Alfred Norwood Jr, stopped and tried to help the fake Clark down, thinking he was a real person. Norwood, a veteran, even called 911 for help, per a recording on the family's home security camera.
However, Norwood, eventually figured out that it was just a holiday display, after all.
The Heerleins told GMA that they were touched that a stranger went out of his way to help. They gave him a gift card to show their appreciation, per Fox-affiliatedWITI .
But they also don't want anyone to go that trouble again over their display.
Now, at the bottom of the ladder, the family has posted a sign that warns that the imperiled man is not real, and that he's been put up for a contest.
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