Chris Mintz was shot as he charged the Umpqua Community College shooter in Oregon

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Chris Mintz, 30, was taken to hospital following the college shooting
Started the day by wishing his son, six, 'Happy Birthday' on Facebook
He then headed to classes at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg
His cousin Derek Bourgeois told DailyMail.com he charged at the shooter
Bourgeois said he and Mintz joined the Army together after high school

Published: 00:38 EST, 2 October 2015 | Updated: 07:58 EST, 2 October 2015

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A heroic student charged at the Oregon college shooter and was shot five times as he tried to save his classmates, his family said.

Army veteran Chris Mintz, 30, was taken to hospital following the massacre at Umpqua Community College on Thursday morning.

His cousin Derek Bourgeois told DailyMail.com that Mintz faced Chris Harper-Mercer, 26, who killed at least 10 people at the school in Roseburg.

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Army veteran Chris Mintz (pictured in the hospital, recovering) was shot five times as he charged at the Oregon college shooter, his cousin told DailyMail.com

‘There was no way he was going to stand around and watch something this horrific happen,' Mintz' (pictured) cousin said

‘I was told he went after the shooter,’ Bourgeois told DailyMail.com.

‘There was no way he was going to stand around and watch something this horrific happen.’

Bourgeois, who lives in North Carolina, said no vital organs were hit when Mintz was shot multiple times, but he is expected to recover after spending most of Thursday in surgery.

According to his family, both of his legs are broken and he will have to learn to walk again.

Mintz pictured above with his son in a picture posted to Facebook. 'Another throwback of my [partner and crime] and I,' Mintz captioned the pictured on the right

Chris Mintz with retired-MMA fighter Chael Sonnen. Mintz's Facebook is full of fitness-related posts

Bourgeois said he and Mintz had joined the Army together after graduating high school. Bourgeois stationed in Fort Bragg in North Carolina while his cousin was sent to Fort Lewis in Washington.

After getting out of the Army, Bourgeois said his cousin began cage-fighting, but was working at an YMCA while he enrolled at the community college in Roseburg with the goal of becoming a fitness coach when he left.

Multiple ambulances are pictured on the scene with at least one patient on a gurney at the Roseburg campus

Emotions were running high following the shooting as family members awaited news

Hannah Miles, center, is reunited with her sister Hailey, left, and father Gary Miles, right, after the shooting

The victim's aunt Wanda told FOX8: 'He could have very easily died. I really think that if he wasn't such a strong, young guy, he may have died.'

According to his family, he was in the military for ten years and moved to Oregon to help raise his son.

And he had started the day yesterday by wishing his six-year-old son Tyrik ‘happy birthday’ on Facebook before headed to the community college where things took a tragic turn.

According to the Daily Beast, he was heard saying ‘It’s my son’s birthday’ as he lay wounded at the school.

In a post on Facebook last month, Mintz reflected on his life, saying ‘memories are what makes life worth living’.

He wrote: ‘It’s amazing to sit back and reflect on life, decisions made or avoided, places I’ve been and the people I’ve met on my journey.

‘Why waste time wondering when I can enjoy my time experiencing life. Memories are what makes life worth living, even the bad ones bring you the ability to love the good ones.

‘So if you’re lucky, you’ll find the stars in your life and make a lifetime of one of a kind memories.’