Pebble Hills QB rescues little girl at Galveston beach
EL PASO, Texas -- Kenneth Cooper Jr. doesn't consider himself a hero, he was just trying to do the right thing.
Cooper Jr., 15, is a soon-to-be junior at Pebble Hills High School.
He plays quarterback for the Spartans and is looking forward to starting on the varsity team for the first time.
Cooper Jr. was spending the day with his family at a beach in Galveston, TX, when he noticed a 6-year-old girl alone on her boogie board.
The girl kept drifting farther, and farther out to sea, and when Cooper Jr. realized that no one was rushing to her rescue, Cooper Jr. jumped into action.
"So I went and I swam over there and she was slipping off the board trying to get back on," Cooper Jr. said. "She was scared like she didn't want to scream for help or anything. She was just tired, and she was trying to swim back but it kept on taking her deeper and deeper."
Cooper Jr. was able to bring the girl back to shore safe and sound.
"I mean it was just a blessing that I was there," Cooper Jr. said. "God put me in that position to help her and save her life."
The little girl and her family thanked Cooper Jr. for saving her life and Cooper's parents were proud of his selfless act.
Cooper Jr. says his faith is what taught him to think of others before one's self.
"You never want to be an 'I person,' so you just want to go out there and help someone else when they're in need," Cooper Jr. said. "That's what happened that day. I had to go out there and help her out. I'm just glad the Lord and my Savior Jesus Christ put me out there in that position to help."
