Andrea Williamson

Hartselle Enquirer

A Hartselle boy is receiving national attention after taking action to save his grandfather’s life earlier this month.

Gram Flowers, 6, pulled his grandfather, Carl Flowers, to safety after a jet ski accident on the Tennessee River. Linsey Flowers, Gram’s mother, said that the family has gone to the river for the past three years. They had recently purchased a boat and had taken it out on the water for the first time that day. However, while the rest of the family was enjoying the boat, Gram and his grandfather suddenly came into danger on the jet ski.

“Carl and Gram were thrown from the jet ski,” Linsey said. “We aren’t sure if he hit the jet ski or if he just hit the water oddly when he was thrown, but Carl was left lying face down in the water. He couldn’t turn over and thought he was going to drown. Gram swam to him, flipped him over and then pulled him to the jet ski.”

Linsey said that the family did not initially realize that there was a problem. Once they realized that there was trouble, though, it still took them a few minutes to reach the jet ski because the boat was having engine trouble. Once they reached them, the family contacted emergency personnel, who later arrived and took Carl to the hospital.

According to Linsey, the family did not recognize that Gram had pulled his grandfather to safety until later in the day when they were discussing the incident at the hospital. She said that she attributes some of his ability to his strong swimming background.

“He took Infant Swimming Resource Self Rescue when he was very young,” Linsey said. “He has been a good swimmer since age 2, and I think a lot of his strength comes from this.”

The event has received attention from multiple national new outlets, such as the Today Show and Fox and Friends. Linsey said, although she did not get to hear the program, friends informed her that it was also discussed on the Rick and Bubba Show, a radio show based in Birmingham. In addition, the story has been trending on social media, with likes and shares on Facebook from people in cities and states across the nation. According to Linsey, her son has enjoyed the media publicity.

When asked if the accident would affect the family’s future plans, Linsey said that they plan to continue their family outings to the river.

“I don’t think that the jet ski accident has affected Gram,” she said. “He still wants to go back and play on the jet ski.”