Teen deserves credit for saving 5-year-old girl

What does it take to be a hero? Do you have to throw a football 4,000 yards a season? Maybe being paid $20 million a picture as an actor is enough? These days, it seems our youth regard such recording artists and athletes as heroes.

Today is Veterans Day, a day reserved for real heroes. It’s our privilege to recognize those who selflessly sacrifice for us all, sometimes with their lives. It’s also a day when we are pleased to recognize another true hero, Anthony Keller.

The mayor and city will recognize the 15-year-old Wasilla High School sophomore Monday for his quick actions that saved the life of a 5-year-old girl last month. He’s featured on today’s front page.

He was staying at the Quality Inn hotel in Kenai the morning of Oct. 2, as was Taylia Hardy, 5, and her mother, Cassie Nix. Taylia went with a family friend and her son to get in a final swim before checking out and had an accident going for a ball in the middle of the hot tub. The friend pulled Taylia from the water, but the little girl was unresponsive and turning blue. By that time, the commotion had drawn Keller to the pool area where he heard the words that saved the girl’s life.

“Does anyone know CPR?”

“Yes sir, I do,” Keller said he recalls. He stepped in and did as he was trained; 30 chest compressions followed by breaths. He revived Taylia and later said he was glad to have taken a CPR class from the Knik Tribal Council this summer.

At a time in life when many of Keller’s peers probably give more thought to fashion and Facebook, it’s refreshing to see a young person show such maturity and compassion. And while he’s uncomfortable being called a hero, we’re perfectly fine with that description: His actions saved another’s life.

And it’s not just our opinion. Kenai Fire Chief Michael Tilley will make the trip to Wasilla Monday to be on hand for the proclamation. He didn’t mince words in explaining the impact Keller made that morning.

“Having someone like Anthony step up ultimately saved the girl’s life,” he said. “It was very encouraging to see someone this young to have the maturity and the courage to step up. … He saved a life that day.”

As a grateful mother, Nix said she’s not sure what she’ll say to Keller when she sees him on Monday.

“Saying thank you seems so stupid, there’s nothing I can say,” she said. “You can’t put into words. Of course, of course he’s my hero.”

And ours, too.