Ian Lewis’ mom decided to sign her son up for Scouting because he loves being outdoors and enjoys adventure, but little did she know that the skills he’s learning would help save her life.

“Ian has high functioning ASD (autism spectrum disorder) and he uses strategies to overcome some of the obstacles he faces,” said Ian’s mom Marty.

Those strategies and Scouting know-how came in handy for the 14-year-old during a kayaking incident this past summer.

Marty and Ian were enjoying the day on Hoover Reservoir when a wave hit the side of Marty’s kayak and flipped her over. Her life vest slipped up around her nose and she couldn’t breathe. “I’m a pretty level-headed person,” said Marty. “But when I went into the water and my life jacket went up over my nose, I panicked.”

Ian, however, utilized the tools he learned in Scouting to remain calm during this stressful situation. After noticing that his mom’s life vest was up over her head and her nose was under water, Ian immediately maneuvered his kayak up toward his mom, told her to grab onto the boat, retrieved the items that had fallen out of her boat so she could adjust her lifejacket, and quickly paddled to a nearby dock.

“Knowing how to use his kayak to support his mother and move her to shore was not unexpected,” said Ian’s Troop Leader. “But knowing what to do and being able to act with that knowledge, especially under stress, is difficult for anyone.”

For his quick thinking and rescuing his mother, Ian received the local Boy Scout council Certificate of Merit.

“I’m so glad Ian is as level headed and quick thinking as he is or the outcome [of this incident] may have been very different,” Marty said. “He is a pretty amazing person. I am so proud of my son for choosing to do what’s right and setting an example for his younger peers, on and off the autism spectrum.”

Ian’s advice to young Scouts reading this: “If anything happens, keep calm and keep a straight mind.”