An Arizona fire department is formally honoring 14-year-old Royal Cothrun for helping save Theresa Morgan, a 76-year-old woman recently diagnosed with dementia, who became disoriented and wandered miles off course amid a heatwave with temperatures reaching 103F (39.4C).

In June, while riding his bicycle in Gilbert, Cothrun noticed Morgan struggling to walk with a grocery bag and purse in the intense heat. He slowed down to speak with her, sensing something was wrong. Cothrun told local news outlet KNXV, “I knew it was hot. She was sweating.”

Morgan had become disoriented after visiting a grocery store, a serious emergency given the life-threatening risks of prolonged exposure to temperatures over 100F.

Captured on Cothrun's smart glasses, a video shows him assessing the area and offering to look up information on his phone to help Morgan. Jeff, a person familiar with the situation, told KNXV, “It’s incredible, really, what he did. Just so lucky, so fortunate, that he ran across her and he cared enough to stay with her and to take care of her.”

Ryan McHugh, the Gilbert fire and rescue battalion chief, praised Cothrun’s actions, saying, “Royal’s quick thinking and compassion not only protected a vulnerable member of our community – but also highlighted the real dangers posed by Arizona’s major heat. His actions remind us all to stay alert and look out for one another, especially during the summer months when heat-related illnesses can become life-threatening.”

The heatwave that affected parts of the US from June through early July has been linked to at least two dozen deaths, according to officials.

Sources