Windermere Scout honored as life-saver

Zachary Stroud, an Eagle Scout from Troop 626, chartered by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Windermere, recently received the National Boy Scouts of America Honor Medal for his actions during a June 2012 campout.

Zachary, a rising senior at Lake Highland Preparatory School, was attending a regional church camp at the Deseret Ranch when an adult leader noticed a young scout in the river was struggling. He saw the scout’s face change to panic, and the scout went underwater.

The adult yelled to Zachary, who was much closer to the youth. Zachary immediately took action and performed a water rescue of the drowning youth.

“I used the basic rescue techniques I learned while working on my Swimming Merit Badge,” Zachary said.

He got the youth to the bank, where others were able to assist in a full recovery.

With little or no regard for his own safety, Zachary took immediate action in a lifesaving role and saved the life of the drowning youth, Scout officials said. He received the Honor Medal May 29 at the Boy Scouts of America Sand Lake District Banquet.

The National BSA Honor Medal is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated unusual heroism and skill or resourcefulness in saving or attempting to save a human life at some risk to self. At the awards ceremony, BSA Sand Lake District Commissioner Dan Tooley said it had been 21 years since a scout in the BSA Sand Lake District had been awarded the Honor Medal.