PLANO - Jesus Lara only began learning to swim about two months ago, but he didn't let that get in the way when a toddler's life was on the line last Friday.
The eight-year-old was swimming the pool at the Estancia Apartments in Plano when he noticed something sitting at the bottom of the pool.
"I grabbed my goggles, I looked at him and it turned out to be a 21-month old baby at the bottom of the pool," Lara said.
He dove down and grabbed the baby, brought it up to the side of the pool and called to his father, Henry. As 9-1-1 was called, the young child's mother rushed over and Henry Lara began performing CPR on the baby boy, who had turned blue and bloated and was unresponsive.
Fire department crews arrived and took over care of the 21-month-old, who became conscious during the ride to the hospital. The baby is now doing well at home.
Lara has only lived in Plano for about two months and in that time his father has been teaching him to swim in their apartment swimming pool.
"I'm very proud of him," Henry Lara said. "He reacted the way a lot of adults wouldn't know how to act."
Those family swim lessons led to an honor Thursday.
The Plano Fire Department recognized Lara's life-saving actions at Plano Fire Station Thursday morning.
The eight-year-old got a VIP tour of the fire station, an opportunity to meet the men and women who work there, a certificate of heroism, a citizen life-saving award medal and a life preserver autographed by all 250 lifeguards employed by the City of Plano.
But Jesus Lara had one more surprise coming.
Jesus told News 8's Shon Gables this morning he is a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fans and would do anything to attend Thursday's preseason game.
His wish came true, as a WFAA viewer called in and offered seats in his suite for the entire Lara family for tonight's game.
Now that should give them something to talk about next time they're hanging around the pool.
