A 16-year-old Elgin boy is the recipient of a lifesaving award from the Elgin Police Department after he saved the life of a 6-year-old girl who nearly drowned Friday.
Andrew Wilson, 16, was attending a chess conference in Peoria when he heard someone yelling for help from the pool area where the conference was being held, the Elgin police said in a statement.
"I ran into the pool and saw a bunch of kids screaming and surrounding this one little girl that was lying on the side of the pool," he said.
Wilson jumped to the rescue and promptly began performing CPR on the young girl to save her life.
"I get down and I start doing CPR and after about 40 compressions, pushing on the chest, she wakes up, coughs and spits out water," he said.
Wilson, the son of Elgin police officer Greg Wilson, said he was certified last year as part of a program with the Elgin Police Explorer program.
"I didn't think I'd ever use it," he said.
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The weekly training program pairs Elgin police and youth who have an interest in a career in law enforcement.
"I was just very proud that he had that training through the police department and that when the time came to use it, he didn't hesitate, used it properly and gratefully it had an awesome outcome," said Wilson's father Greg Wilson.
There are currently 62 Elgin police explorers, according to a press release.
“I am so proud of Andrew and all the Explorers for their service to our community,” Elgin Police chief Jeffrey Swoboda said in a statement. “I am also proud of the members of the Elgin Police Department who participate in the program and serve as mentors and teachers, providing guidance and training for Explorers. This is another example that when you take the time to invest in kids they will meet or exceed our expectations more often than when they disappoint us.”
Wilson said the incident has him considering following in his father's footsteps.
"I'm more leaning towards becoming a cop after that because I like the feeling of saving people and keeping people safe," he said.
