(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — It was a summer night in June when four boys — all of whom are elementary school students in Glen Ellyn School District 41 — were at Lake Ellyn. They heard someone struggling in the water.
A man had tried to retrieve a broken, radio-controlled boat. He got into trouble and was calling for help. Declan and Tiernan Devlin, Tommy Nitti and Charlie Valerio retrieved a kayak and a life jacket and saved the man. Two of the boys paddled out, and as the man hung on, the boys took turns paddling the kayak back to shore.
On Monday, the boys were honored during a school district board meeting.
“There is little doubt that but for the quick actions of these young men, tragedy was averted,” said police chief Philip Norton.
School board president Robert Bruno asked the boys how they knew what to do.
“A couple days before, I went whitewater rafting and the guy said, ‘If someone jumps off the boat, give them your life jacket, don’t fight, and float on your back,’” Declan said.
Charlie said they “were all super excited” and “worked together to be able to save him.”
He added that they’re all “great friends.”
Norton led the crowd in a round of applause for the boys, who are students at Forest Glen Elementary.
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