A tragedy can happen in the blink of an eye. 

Especially around swimming pools. But for one little boy who found himself unable to stay afloat in the deep end of a pool recently, what could have been the worst day of his life, turned into a miracle.

Thanks to two unlikely rescuers, the seven-year-old Michigan boy got a second chance at life.

Heroes can come in all sizes and ages – and for Griffin Emerson, his superhero rescue came in the form of two young brothers, 12-year-old Noah Roche, and Weston Woods, 8.

The brothers were going for a swim in the pool at their apartment complex, when they saw a little boy.

Griffin, who had been playing in the shallow end of the water, decided he wanted to be like the big kids. So he pulled off his safety floaties and started to try and make his way to the deep end.

I just wanted to prove myself. Like, yeah, I can actually swim and stuff,” Griffin said.

Suddenly, though, Griffin found himself in a battle to keep his head above water. In a video released by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, the little boy can be seen trying desperately to keep his head above the water. Suddenly, he loses the battle and begins to sink to the bottom of the pool.

Griffin Emerson, far right, is rescued by brothers Noah Roche, and Weston Woods.

Nearly a minute passes, with no one around the child noticing his struggles.

Except for the two young brothers.

“I saw him and I just knew that he wasn’t OK,” Noah said. “I saw him at the bottom of the pool and then I didn’t know if he was just playing down there or something. So I just told Weston to get in and dive down to see if he’s OK.”

“His head was going up and down. I knew he wasn’t OK,” Weston added.

Jumping in, Weston swam to the bottom and managed to pull the younger child to the surface.

The brothers’ mother Sylese Roche called 911, while Griffin’s mom began CPR. 

Within a few minutes, the video shows Griffin coughing up water while his mother rubs his back.

“I was scared I was gonna drown. It felt all weird. I spit out some water and that’s it,” Griffin said about what happened after he regained consciousness beside his mom.

The boys got to meet first responders following their ordeal. Photo by Genesee County Police Department

Less than two days later, Griffin was back home with a clean bill of health.

Sheriff Christopher R. Swanson of Genesee County, Michigan, said that the boy’s quick thinking along with CPR being administered quickly gave Griffin the best chance. “By getting him to breathe on his own that fast, that’s the best possible outcome. And that’s why we celebrate the story.”

The sheriff’s office held a small event to celebrate the two boys, allowing them to meet with Griffin again, along with the first responders.

Griffin’s grandfather, Tom Kinczkowski, couldn’t stop expressing his gratitude to the brothers.

Weston and Noah, you know, they hold a special place in my heart. And they basically saved Griffin. A lot of my heroes don’t wear capes. And they are two of them,” he said.

The sheriff’s office gave all three boys a gift card for $100 to go toward a shopping spree, as well as a stack of books. “I’m rich,” Griffin said. “Thank you!”

His grandfather had a message to anyone who sees someone in trouble.

“Don’t not get involved. These guys could have done a lot of things, but they got involved,” said Griffin’s grandfather. “They did a heroic thing, they really did, and I’m getting teary-eyed just thinking about it.”

When asked why he saved Griffin, Noah said, “I just thought it was the right thing.”

Watch below to see the ceremony for these heroic boys!

Sources: ABC News | WNEM | Inside Edition