A 12-year-old is being honored as a hero for saving his mother and brother
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Updated: 7:33 AM PST Feb 11, 2021
Gianna Caserta
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Updated: 7:33 AM PST Feb 11, 2021
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>> I WAS JUST DOING WHAT I HAD TO DO. GIANNA: 12-YEAR-OLD JACOB NAPOLES WAS HONORED AS A HERO FOR SAVING THE LIVES OF HIS MOTHER AND LITTLE BROTHER. ON THE MORNING OF JANUARY 20, THE THREE WERE ON THEIR WAY TO SCHOOL OVER THE JENSEN BEACH CAUSEWAY WHEN ANOTHER CAR MADE A U-TURN IN FRONT OF THEM, HITTING THEIR JEEP. >> AT THAT MOMENT, MY MOM LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL, SHE LOST CONTROL THE CAR, AND IT WENT IN THE LAKE. GIANNA: THEIR JEEP WAS SINKING FAST IN A RETENTION POND OFF THE JENSEN BEACH CAUSEWAY. >> WITHIN SECONDS, THE WATER WAS UP TO MY MOM’S WAIST, SO MY MOM TRIED EVERYTHING TO OPEN THE DOOR, SHE WAS EVEN PUNCHING AND KICKING IT, EVERYTHING. GIANNA: HIS MOTHER WAS TRAPPED INSIDE AND COULDN’T OPEN THE DOOR. >> WHEN SHE TURNED AROUND TO TELL ME TO TRY TO KICK OPEN THE DOOR, SHE WAS BLEEDING FROM HER NOSE, AND SO THEN I GOT WORRIED AND AT THAT MOMENT, I WAS THINKING IN MY MIND, TRY TO GET THAT DOOR OPEN, SO I KEPT KICKING AT IT AND KICKING OVER AND OVER UNTIL I GOT THAT OPEN . ONCE IT WAS OPEN, WE ALL ESCAPED THROUGH THAT DOOR, ON TOP OF THE JEEP. >> AMAZING THAT HE HAD THE FORESIGHT AND COURAGE TO DO THAT, AMAZING INDIVIDUAL. GIANNA: ST. LUCIE COUNTY SHERIFF KEN MASCARA SURPRISED JACOB AT SCHOOL AND PRESENTED HIM WITH A CHALLENGE COIN AND CERTIFICATE >> THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID, IT IS AN HONOR TO MEET YOU AND AN HONOR TO REPRESENT YOU. GIANNA: SINCE THE ACCIDENT WAS IN MARTIN COUNTY, JACOB ALSO RECEIVED A COIN FROM THE MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE. >> I PRETTY MUCH LOVE EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY AND I’M HAPPY THAT I SAVED