HURRICANE — A 12-year-old boy received the Boy Scout's highest honor Sunday night — a badge of heroism.
On Halloween 2010, Jacob Perry saved his dad's life after his dad Craig started choking on some rice. "I tried to drink some water to wash it down and the next thing I knew I couldn't breathe," Craig said.
Jacob was the only person around so he jumped into action, grabbing his 6-foot-5-inch father around the waist and performed the Heimlich maneuver.
"It was actually pretty hard to do it because … the first time it made me understand I had to go really, really hard," Jacob said. "So I just pulled all I could and I lifted him off the ground."
After Jacob did the Heimlich, the food popped out. "I was surprised at how calm he was and how collected he was," Craig said, "but how he immediately jumped into action, I couldn’t believe it."
Craig said he's very proud of his son and called him "my hero."
Getting all choked up, Craig said, "I don't know how many dads can say that their son saved their life, but I can say that about my son."
Jacob said he couldn't believe he saved someone's life — let alone his dad's. "I've always thought how cool would it be to do that, but I never ever thought I would have to," he said.
Jacob said that any Scout would have done the same.