Quick thinking and bravery from an unlikely source helped save a man’s life Wednesday evening at an apartment complex swimming pool in Lexington, Kentucky.
Avory Woolery, an 11-year-old boy, sprang into action after noticing a man lying unconscious underwater at the bottom of the pool located in the 100 block of Lakeshore Drive. Around 8 p.m. on July 2, emergency responders were called to the scene.
According to Woolery’s account to local station WKYT, adults nearby had not yet jumped in to help. He grabbed his goggles, dove underwater and pulled the man toward the surface with assistance from his father, Sean, and others at the pool. The man’s friend then pulled him onto the deck and began performing CPR.
“There was this man in the pool, like unconscious underwater, almost shaking, maybe, and my adrenaline kicked in,” Woolery said. “No one was doing anything so I put on my goggles… I went underwater. I grabbed him up.”
The unidentified man was rushed to a local hospital in serious condition by Lexington Fire Department crews. Updates on his current condition were not immediately available as of Thursday.
Woolery later reflected on the moment with striking composure for his age.
“There is no way that I was going to let another man die today,” he said. “He is a human being; he should be treated as such.”
The story has quickly gained attention online, with many praising the young boy’s courage and sense of humanity in a high-pressure situation. Woolery and his father were at the pool when the incident unfolded, and bystanders also assisted in the rescue efforts.
Incidents like this highlight the impact of individual bravery, especially from someone so young stepping up when others froze. Local outlets continue to follow the man’s recovery.
