Two teenage boys from Iowa have been celebrated as local heroes after they rescued an elderly woman who had been injured and lying on her property for more than 16 hours. The incident took place on the morning of June 9 in Fruitland, Muscatine County, where the quick actions of the two 13-year-olds, Gunner Skidmore and Kohen Chick, made a significant difference to the woman’s life.
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The day began like any other for Skidmore, who was enjoying a Pop-Tart and browsing social media when his friend Kohen suggested they go for a bike ride. The pair set off along a local trail that runs adjacent to some homes. It was then that they noticed something unusual that prompted them to investigate further.
Skidmore recounted, “I went to the trail and Kohen was like, ‘Do you see that lady back there?’ We went back to look, and it took a bit of time to find her.” When they finally discovered the woman, she appeared to have fallen and needed urgent assistance. Skidmore approached her, asking if she was alright, to which she responded, “Yeah, I need help. Call 911.”
The situation was alarming, and the teens felt uncertain about how to proceed. Fortunately, Skidmore was able to summon his mother, who arrived promptly and made the emergency call. According to him, “She showed up pretty fast, and then my mum called 911. [The elderly woman] didn’t have her phone or water or anything. She was there for like 16-plus hours.”
The boys later learned that the woman had been outside since approximately 5 p.m. the previous evening. “She was scared,” Chick remarked, noting the distress on her face, which was unfortunately covered in insects. They suspected she had fallen while tending to her horse and had tried to roll from her backyard to the front in a bid to attract attention.
Reflecting on the timing of their bike ride, Skidmore stated, “A few more hours and she definitely wouldn’t have made it.” Their timely discovery proved to be crucial, as the woman was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital in Muscatine for treatment.
After the incident, Skidmore’s mother maintained contact with the woman’s family and offered to take care of her horse during her recovery. In a heartwarming gesture, she plans to prepare a lasagna for the woman once she returns home, fostering a sense of community and support during her rehabilitation.
On June 15, an official recognition ceremony took place, where both boys were honoured with a special award from Christopher Jasper, the emergency management director of Muscatine County. During the presentation, Jasper acknowledged the boys’ actions, stating, “Today, I would like to recognise the extraordinary actions of two young men whose quick thinking and compassion helped save a life in Muscatine County.”
He emphasised that without the boys’ timely intervention, the outcome could have been tragic. “Their awareness, compassion, and willingness to help a person in need undoubtedly made a difference and may very well have saved her life,” Jasper added.
The brave actions of Gunner Skidmore and Kohen Chick serve as an inspiring reminder of the potential impact of youth involvement and community spirit. Their courage and promptness have not only brought about a positive outcome for the injured woman but have also firmly established their place as role models for their peers.