Arizona Honors 14-Year-Old Royal Cothrun for Saving 76-Year-Old Woman in 103F Heat
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 18
Arizona Honors 14-Year-Old Royal Cothrun for Saving 76-Year-Old Woman in 103F Heat
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 18
Summary
Gilbert fire officials plan to honor Royal Cothrun at an Aug. 11 town council meeting after the 14-year-old found Theresa Morgan wandering in 103F heat and stayed with her until help arrived.
Cothrun spotted the 76-year-old struggling in June, guided her into shade, helped her recall her son's phone number and called for assistance after realizing she was disoriented.
Morgan had recently been diagnosed with dementia and had lost her way returning from a grocery store, a dangerous situation because confusion can signal impending heatstroke, the department said.
Jeff Morgan said the teenager may have saved his mother's life, while Gilbert officials said the case underscored the threat of Arizona's extreme summer heat.
The recognition comes after a climate-driven heatwave across parts of the US in June and early July was linked by officials to at least two dozen deaths.