An 11-year-old boy from Kentucky is being celebrated for his bravery after his quick thinking helped save the life of a man who was found unconscious at the bottom of a swimming pool.
The incident happened at an apartment complex in Lexington at about 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1, when Avory Woolery noticed an unidentified man submerged underwater while others looked on.
Realising the situation was critical, the youngster decided to act without waiting for anyone else.
“I was like, somebody’s gotta do something. No one was doing anything, so I put on my goggles. I went underwater. I grabbed him up,” Woolery told local outlet WKYT.
The 11-year-old said he saw the man unconscious beneath the surface and appearing to shake, leaving him convinced there was no time to waste.
“There was no way that I was going to let another man die today. He’s a human being. He should be treated as such,” he said.
After reaching the man, Woolery was assisted by another person at the pool in bringing him safely onto the deck. A bystander then began performing CPR while emergency services were contacted.
The Lexington Fire Department said the victim was taken to the hospital in serious condition. Authorities have not disclosed the nature of his injuries, and no update on his condition has been released as of Friday.
The young boy’s actions have since earned widespread praise online, with many social media users describing him as a hero.
