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Soldier: 12-year-old boy saved my life

Posted at 7:02 AM, Oct 12, 2013
and last updated 2013-10-12 20:38:14-04

LAKE GEORGE, Colo. (KRDO) -- A soldier is crediting a 12-year-old boy with saving his life after rough waters tipped over his kayak in Lake George, Colorado.

"I was fearing for my life," said Staff Sgt. Wesley Patton, a Fort Carson soldier.

Patton never dreamed something bad would happen when he went out on the 11-mile reservoir. But once the water turned choppy, his kayak flipped last Sunday.

Luckily, 12-year-old Adin Pruett and his dad were fishing nearby.

"I yelled to him, "Are you okay?' And he said, "Uh yeah,'" Pruett

However, things quickly took a turn as the kayak filled with water and the boat began to pull him under.

That's because Patton was tangled in his nets and fishing gear while the kayak began to sink.  At that point, Adin said he asked again if Patton needed help. He replied that he did.

Adin then started tossing anything from his boat to save him.

"I threw these, which also would help him because it's a life jacket," said Adin.

Patton made it to the edge of the boat and Adin and his father managed to pull him into their boat. However, once the soldier made it on board he started having an asthma attack.

"He was breathing really heavily," Adin said.

Once the three made it to shore, Adin jumped out of the boat and ran to Patton's truck to get his inhaler.

Patton credits Adin, who he called "a very mature and helpful young man," with saving his life.

Next month, the staff sergeant will be fighting to save others. But he said he will always remember the brave boy who saved him.

"I'm just like, 'Woah! I just saved a guy's life!'" said Adin.