Ortonville- Like many young siblings, Kieler Price has had his share of arguments with his older brother, Jacoby.
But whatever their past disagreements, there is no arguing that Kieler, 10, showed courage and loyalty when he saved Jacoby’s life March 18.
That afternoon, Kieler, Jacoby, 12, and their youngest brother, Colton, 6, went walking on a trail through woods, about a quarter to half-mile from their home in a village subdivision. When they reached a large, partially frozen pond, Jacoby started out on it, with Kieler not far behind. Colton was near to the shore. The day was sunny and temperatures were in the mid-30s.
Jacoby was walking head down with a stick in hand when the thin ice gave way.
‘I didn’t realize I was close to the water part and then I just dropped,? says Jacoby, a sixth-grader at Brandon Fletcher Intermediate School. ‘It was scary.?
In freezing cold water in the middle of the pond, the 4-foot-9-inch Jacoby, was in so deep his feet didn’t touch bottom. He began trying to reach stronger ice and it broke as he attempted to get out.
‘I thought he would die,? says Kieler, who ran to Jacoby’s rescue? dropping to his knees, reaching out to his brother with both hands and pulling Jacoby out.
The pair, wearing jeans, sweatshirts and winter coats, crawled on hands and knees to the shore. Then, with Colton, they walked home.
‘I was thinking about how much trouble I was going to be in,? says Jacoby. ‘I was thinking, ‘Dad’s gonna kill me.??
Standing now in the kitchen of their home, Jacoby recalls, smiling, that when they reached the garage, he told his brothers to get their dad and then changed his mind, saying, ‘No, get mom.?
‘As soon as I saw they were all OK, I lost it,? says their father, Brian Price.
‘All I could think was ‘Oh my God, is he OK??? says their mom, Shannon Price. ‘He was crying and said, ‘Dad told me I’m grounded for a month.? I said, ‘I wouldn’t worry about that right now, let’s get you warmed up.??
The brothers say they’ve learned from the experience to not walk on ice and to stay away from water. Their mom hopes they’ve learned a new appreciation for each other.
‘I was sobbing and told Kieler, ‘Thank you for saving Jacoby,? and he just said, ‘No problem,?? says Shannon, smiling. ‘I told Jacoby, ‘The next time you argue, remember, he saved your life.??
Jacoby is grateful to Kieler.
‘I’m glad he was there,? he says. ‘I was lucky.?
Kieler is modest about it all. When asked if he feels like a hero, he simply smiles and shrugs his shoulders. ‘I feel bad he fell in the water.?