A FISHERMAN AND TWO FRIENDS OF AN ENGLEWOOD TEEN WERE HONORED WEDNESDAY BY THE ENGLEWOOD FIRE CONTROL DISTRICT AT A CEREMONY AT THE ENGLEWOOD SPORTS COMPLEX. 14 YEAR OLD AUSTIN CRUM AND HIS BUDDIES, TYLER NELSON AND JOEY ADAMS, WHO ARE ALSO 14, SET OUT TO KEEP COOL ON JUNE 11TH BY JUMPING FROM A ROPE OFF OF THE SWEPSON BRIDGE. HOWEVER, WHEN CRUM HIT THE WATER, HE FELL UNCONSCIOUS AND BEGAN TO DROWN. THE TWO BOYS PULLED HIM TO SHORE AND BEGAN TO GIVE HIM MOUTH-TO-MOUTH AND CHEST COMPRESSIONS. THAT’S WHEN DENVER GILLEAN STEPPED IN. HE WAS FISHING NEARBY WHEN HE HEARD THE COMMOTION AND TOOK OVER. A KOREAN WAR VETERAN, GILLEAN TOLD THE BOYS TO FLAG DOWN A MOTORIST AND HAVE THEM CALL 9-1-1. MEANWHILE, HE SLAPPED CRUM ON THE BACK AND ASKED HIM FOR A SIGN OF LIFE. HE GOT IT IN THE FORM OF A GRUNT, AND CRUM BEGAN BREATHING AGAIN. HE WAS FLOWN TO ALL CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL IN ST. PETERSBURG WHERE HE WAS PUT INTO AN INDUCED COMA AND FITTING WITH A BREATHING TUBE. HE WOKE UP SEVERAL DAYS LATER AND IS FINE NOW. THE THREE BOYS MET PLAYING FOOTBALL FOR POP WARNER, AND A RECENT FUND RAISER WAS HELD TO HELP PAY FOR THE HOSPITAL BILLS. TURNS OUT THE PARENTS HAD INSURANCE, SO THEY TURNED THE MONEY BACK TO THE PROGRAM WITH A SUGGESTION THAT SOME OF IT BE USED TO TEACH PEOPLE CPR, WHICH SAVED THEIR BOY’S LIFE.
