Four boys were rewarded with free meals for life after their quick thinking helped save a five-year-old girl from a terrifying situation in a flooded creek.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The dramatic rescue happened at Hubble Creek in Jackson, where heavy weekend rain had caused water levels to rise around a low water bridge in Jackson City Park.
Children would often gather around the area to play, but underneath the bridge was an uncovered culvert capable of creating a powerful suction, per KFVS12.
On that particular Sunday afternoon, Kinsley Stuart was playing in the water alongside a group of youngsters when she suddenly disappeared.
Jackson resident Aiden Kyle realised something was wrong.
“We were all at the park. It was raining and the water was higher, over the bridge, and we were all swimming, splashing and having fun. There was a little girl and we were all wondering where she went,” he said.
The current had pulled five-year-old Kinsley into the culvert and underneath the bridge.
Recalling what she experienced beneath the water, Kinsley said: “And my feet were there, and my eyes were open the whole time. I saw green stuff,”
Fortunately, Aiden spotted her.
“I saw her hand on top of the bridge part, so I jumped in and I grabbed on,” said Aiden.
But the force of the water meant rescuing Kinsley wasn’t going to be a one-person job.
Aiden himself began getting pulled by the current, prompting his longtime friend Isaiah Randol to jump in and help.
“He was getting sucked in with her, so I jumped in and I grabbed her hand with him and we both pulled,” he said. “Then the other two boys jumped in and it took four boys to pull this girl out because it was that strong.
Eventually, the four boys managed to overcome the strength of the water and pull Kinsley to safety.
She was subsequently taken to hospital, where she was checked over before being released.
Aiden later reflected on the frightening incident, saying: “It’s a coincidence that it’s the second time that I have seen a friend of mine drowning.”
The following Monday, Kinsley’s mother, Casey Stuart, found a memorable way to thank the group responsible for bringing her daughter home safely.
Kinsley’s family owned Kenny’s Flipping Burgers, and Casey announced that the boys would never have to pay for a meal there again.
“We do want to say thank you to the boys from Kennys. We own Kenny’s flipping burgers. And we want to let you boys know that you guys can eat with us forever, for free. Because there is no amount of money, that can ever be put on what you did,” she said.
Following the incident, the City of Jackson and Kent Peetz at the Department of Public Works were contacted about the dangerous culvert.
Possible measures discussed included installing caution signs and placing a grate over the culvert, with the potential remedies due to be considered at a subsequent meeting.
For Kinsley and her family, though, the actions of four boys had already made an immeasurable difference — and the promise of free food for life was one way of ensuring their bravery would never be forgotten.
Featured image credit: Rafael Minguet Delgado / Pexels
