Wasilla teenage hero receives key to the city

WASILLA — Two standing ovations with a few tears of joy were enough to render a local teen nearly speechless Monday.

“I have no idea what to say right now,” said Anthony Keller after being honored by Wasilla Mayor Verne Rupright with a key to the city. “I’m stunned right now.”

It was Keller’s actions, however, that have stunned his community.

It was Oct. 2 when he saved the life of Wasilla resident Taylia Hardy, 5, after the youngster drowned in a hot tub at the Quality Inn in Kenai. Monday culminated a whirlwind weekend for the Burchell High School sophomore, who was featured on the front page of Friday’s Frontiersman and received a special proclamation from Rupright and the city at Monday’s city council meeting.

Kenai Fire Chief Michael Tilley said his department was on the receiving end of the emergency call to the hotel that there was a “probable” or “possible” drowning.

“It’s because of Anthony’s actions that day that it wasn’t ‘probably’ or ‘possible,’” said Tilley, who drove to Wasilla Monday to present Keller with a certificate of appreciation from the city of Kenai. “He stepped in and made a difference that day. I hope from all you’re seeing here you understand the gravity of your actions that day. I’m honored to be able to come here today and meet you. It’s people like you that make a difference in the world.”

That difference was visible to all as Hardy, a pink bundle of energy, bustled around the council chambers.

After giving Keller a big hug, Hardy’s mother, Cassie Nix, expressed her thanks.

“That hug was all the emotion,” she said. “I’ve never been so thankful in my life. I’ve been crying for over a month.”

In presenting Wasilla’s proclamation and key to the city, Rupright lauded Keller as “a fine young man and a good representative of our community. It’s the quality of young man like this who speaks well for his whole generation. They keep turning them out like this, so much the better for this world.”

The wheels for Keller’s life-saving actions that day actually started turning months ago when he took a CPR class from the Knik Tribal Council. In fact, he was certified in child CPR on Aug. 12 — Hardy’s birthday. Speaking for the council, Kevin Toothacre said he had spoken to Keller and Nix since the event, but seeing a photo of the pair together in Friday’s Frontiersman “brought it home to me.”

Looking at the packed Wasilla City Council Chambers, Toothacre said he was “truly humbled by the turnout here and the story in the Frontiersman. I figured I knew all I needed to know about the incident, … but I didn’t truly understand the magnitude of these events until I saw this picture of Taylia smiling.”

As the crowd milled around the back of the room Monday enjoying celebratory pieces of cake, Hardy was still grinning from ear-to-ear.

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269. Read the Nov. 11 feature about Anthony Keller and Taylia Hardy at tinyurl.com/cfby7c6.