Chiefs of the Jamesville Fire Department Monday night honored Jamesville residents Ari Tzetzis, 11, and Leif Rosenholm, 13, for the boys’ actions in saving the life of a teenager who had a seizure and fell into a pool three weeks ago.
“If it wasn’t for them, I do believe it would have made the difference in another boy’s life,” said JFD Chief Bill Johnson during a Boy Scout Troop 22 Court of Honor ceremony at the First Baptist Church in Jamesville.
Tzetzis, a Troop 22 scout, and Rosenholm, a former Troop 22 scout, were out front of the Tzetzis house in Jamesville on Sunday, Sept. 7, when the neighbor from across the street came running across the road screaming for help, said Athena Tzetzis, Ari’s mother. The woman’s 16-year-old son was cleaning their pool when he suffered a seizure and fell in, sinking to the bottom 10 feet below.
Athena, Ari and Leif ran to the woman’s pool across the street, where Ari called 911 and Athena jumped in but could not raise the teen off the bottom.
“I said, ‘Ari, jump in and get him.’ So he did. He said ‘Leif jump in and help.’ And he did,” Athena said. “We just kind of reacted; it was adrenaline I guess.”
Ari and Leif, both fully clothed, worked together to save the boy. Ari pulled the teen up off the bottom of the pool and Leif helped him keep the teen’s head above water and bring him out of the pool.
“I just grabbed him — I couldn’t see so I felt around and got my arm around his stomach and pulled him up,” Ari said.
When they got him out of the water, the boy was not breathing. Athena slapped his back, slapped his face and told him to start breathing, which he did, she said.
“It was kind of scary,” Leif said. “I thought possibly we might have to jump in and save the guy. … We’re just glad he’s okay.”
“It was one of the scariest moments of my life,” Athena said.
Johnson said by the time emergency crews arrived the teen was already out of the water and breathing, and today he is doing fine.
“We’re just glad that people [Ari and Leif’s] age know to get involved,” Johnson said. “Not many people get involved.”
The boys were honored Monday, Sept. 29, during the Troop 22 regular Court of Honor ceremony where various troop awards are handed out. That night was chosen because Ari is a current scout, Leif is a former scout, and the Court of Honor typically has a lot of parents and siblings in attendance, said Tom Bouvia, a Troop 22 scout leader.
“As an adult Scouter and a deputy chief of the Southwood Fire Department, I was so pleased to hear that these two young men were willing to get involved and make a difference,” Bouvia said. “Their heroic efforts certainly had an impact on the outcome of this story.”
Johnson, along with JFD Assistant Chiefs Jeff Kunsman and Kevin Carver, gave both Ari and Leif plaques to honor their lifesaving efforts.
“I’m pretty excited,” Leif said. “It’s a pretty big honor.”
“I’m happy,” Ari said.
Both of the boys’ mothers, who were present at the ceremony, said they were extremely proud of their sons.
“I’m glad he was able to help,” said Gail Rosenholm, Leif’s mother.
“They did a great job; were a great team,” said Athena.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Eagle Bulletin. He can be reached at [email protected] or at 434-8889 ext. 335.
