A 14-year-old boy is being honored by the Gilbert Fire Department for his heroic actions during a severe heatwave in June.
Royal Cothrun encountered Theresa Morgan, a 76-year-old woman who had wandered off course while returning home from a grocery store.
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She was struggling to walk in extreme heat, carrying groceries.
Cothrun noticed Morgan's distress and approached her. He later told KNXV, "I knew it was hot.
She was sweating."
Morgan, who has dementia, had become disoriented. Prolonged exposure to temperatures over 100°F could have led to life-threatening conditions.
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Cothrun guided Morgan to a shaded area and helped her recall her son's phone number. He then called her son, Jeff Morgan, to inform him of the situation.
The teenager stayed with Theresa until fire and rescue crews arrived to ensure her safety.
Jeff Morgan expressed gratitude for Cothrun's actions, stating, "It's incredible, really, what he did.
Just so lucky, so fortunate, that he ran across her and he cared enough to stay with her and to take care of her."
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The incident occurred during a climate crisis-driven heatwave that affected many parts of the United States, resulting in numerous fatalities.
