Wakeman teenagers rescue man from river

WAKEMEN, Ohio (WOIO) - Three high school seniors have caught the attention of their community.

Without hesitation, Connor Dawson and his two friends, Drake Munroe and Morrison Dauch Munroe, jumped into action and saved a man’s life.

They were coming home from a birthday party Saturday night. They were driving down Route 60 in Wakeman when another driver veered into their lane and went off the road. The car ended up in the Vermillion River. Connor immediately pulled his car over and the boys jumped out to help the man.

“Me and Drake were the ones who got in the water. He was trying to open the door and he was struggling. We both got the door open the man was unresponsive. We ended up yanking him out of the car. He couldn’t swim. I had to hold him up the entire time,” said Dawson.

A dramatic rescue was made in intense rushing river currents because of the weekend’s heavy rain. The boys say the man they saved is back home with his family. They’ve been keeping in touch with him and checking in.

“He did say thank you. His daughter said thank you. I think that was sweet,” said Dawson.

Drake knows all too well how dangerous Vermillion River’s currents can get. One of his family members died rafting on the river. But that didn’t stop him from getting into the dangerous waters.

“I would do it again. It’s always worth the risk to save somebody,” said Drake Munroe.

Why the driver crashed is unknown at this time. However, the boys are grateful they were in the right place at the right time.