From Staff Reports

In mid-October, two young men did something they, their families and the community will surely remember for years to come.

After witnessing an 18-month-old child fall into the deep end of a swimming pool while at a birthday party at a local residence, Ten-year-old Cooper Fuller and 8-year-old Kade Brantley didn’t hesitate for a moment before springing into action to help the boy.

“When we first noticed him, we tried to get to him by kneeling down and reaching from the side of the pool,” Kade told managing editor Neal Wagner last week, noting he and Cooper were the first to witness the baby fall into the pool.

When they were unable to reach the toddler from the side of the pool, Cooper immediately jumped into the swimming pool to save the victim from drowning by pushing the baby toward Kade, who pulled the child out of the water. After the toddler was safely out of the water, the boys alerted adults and took steps to calm the baby.

For their actions, the two boys earned recognition from Alabaster Mayor Marty Handlon during a Nov. 13 City Council meeting. Handlon presented both boys with mayor’s challenge coins and proclamations bestowing them with the “hometown heroes” title.

The boys also earned praise from members of the City Council.

After the meeting, the two boys remained humble about their accomplishments, and said they were more nervous about being recognized during the council meeting than they were when they saved the toddler’s life.

Following their recognition from Handlon, those in attendance at the meeting offered the boys their praise.

“That was very brave, and we are very proud of you,” said Ward 3 Councilwoman Stacy Rakestraw.

“Congratulations, guys, that’s big-time,” said Council President Scott Brakefield. “We are thankful you live in Alabaster.”

Cooper and Kade certainly deserved the attention and praise they received, and then some. To be so young and already know how to calmly handle a crisis situation surely points to a great future for these two young hometown heroes.