R. Akiba met a dead man gathering sticks for his own burning. in Gehinom. Akiba inquired how he could be saved and acted accordingly; viz., he educated the man’s son until he could say the blessing in the Synagogue and thus saved his father from tortures in Gehinom.
Rabbi Akiva Meets a Man Gathering Sticks for His Own Burning
Gaster, Exempla no. 134; cf. Kallah Rabbati 2