“Troublemaker” Kid Saves Man’s Life

Neal Simon has a black belt in karate, is known for starting mischief at summer camp and can now add “saving lives” to his list of “What I Did on Summer Vacation” when he enters the seventh grade this year.

Neal was riding his bike along the lake at Two Log Campground in Honey Brook, Pa., Aug. 1 when he saw a man flailing in the water. Without hesitation, Neal jumped into the water and pulled 53-year-old Howard Anderson to safety.

Anderson’s canoe had capsized and his feet became tangled in some branches. "I was scared...me and God were talking," said Anderson, who admitted he isn't a good swimmer.

"I got into the water and told him to calm down and I got my hand into his and just brought him back up," Neal described. The 70 lb. kid just finished taking a water rescue course at his local YMCA.

Anderson said that no one else was in the area, and if it wasn’t for Neal, he could have drowned.

A manager at the campgrounds told The Daily Local News that she was surprised to hear what Neal had done, saying that he’s usually “a little troublemaker.”

"I felt, like, really happy that I saved someone from drowning, cause, like, no other 12-year old kid would do that," Neal said.

Neil's age didn't seem to matter to Anderson who simply said: "That's my hero."

 

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