Bay County sheriff gives award to 5th grader who saved teacher’s life
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Bay County Sheriff Troy R. Cunningham stands with 11-year-old Dylan Paul, whom he had just presented with a lifesaving award.
BAY CITY, MI – The Bay County Sheriff’s Office has honored a local 11-year-old for saving his teacher’s life.On Friday, May 17, Sheriff Troy R. Cunningham and deputies stopped by Bay City All Saints Central Elementary School, 715 14th St., surprising fifth-grade student Dylan Paul and presenting him with a lifesaving award.“The entire school came into the hallway,” Cunningham said.The morning of May 6, Dylan had noticed teacher Karen Renko having trouble breathing in her classroom. He asked her if she needed help and, being unable to speak, nodded in the affirmative. Dylan then performed a lifesaving maneuver on her, dislodging a piece of muffin that she had been choking on, Cunningham said.
When he met the boy, Cunningham asked him how he knew to respond in such a way.
“He said he had been watching YouTube videos about it just a few days before,” the sheriff said.
In a statement on the school’s website, Principal Lisa Rhodus said the institution is proud of Dylan’s quick acting.
“All Saints Central Schools is grateful to Dylan and extends sincere appreciation to him for his good deed,” the statement reads.
“He’s a very nice, humble little kid,” Cunningham said. “He was all handshakes and smiles when he got the certificate and his classmates were applauding him. It was a cool little deal.”