When an ordinary day turned into a life-threatening situation, 10-year-old Drake Linn of Calhoun, Ga., became an unexpected hero. On a routine Monday afternoon, Drake’s quick thinking and courage made him a hero..

Drake had been riding in a pickup truck with his grandfather, who was towing a boat, when his grandpa suddenly passed out. As the truck barreled down the highway at 70 miles per hour, Drake realized something was seriously wrong. His grandfather, a diabetic, was not responding to Drakel. With stunning quickness and a composure most adults wouldn’t have, Drake managed to grab the steering wheel, guiding the truck and the towed boat safely to the roadside.

Once the vehicle was safely stopped, Drake immediately called 911. In a transcript of the call obtained by Atlanta News First, Drake’s urgent yet calm voice can be heard: “Hey, my grandpa is a diabetic! I pulled him over! I pulled him over on the side of the road, can you hear me!?…Exit 320, we are right at exit 320!” His precise information allowed first responders to find them quickly, and help save his grandfather.

Hey, my grandpa is a diabetic! I pulled him over! I pulled him over on the side of the road…”

Drake said he had all these thoughts while he got the truck under control “All the stuff is going through my mind. It is like, ‘What is going to happen? Are we going to get in a wreck or what?’ But it worked out perfectly,” he said. His family said Drake’s ability to handle a crisis well stems from his experiences on the family’s farm, where situations can change quickly.

10-year-old Drake Linn saved his grandfather by managing to drive the vehicle off the road and parking it, after the man suffered a medical emergency. Photo courtesy of the Linn family

Sheriff Mitch Ralston of Gordon County honored Drake at the Sheriff’s Office, praising him as “an extraordinary young man who took a dangerous situation and made it safe for him and his grandpa.” In recognition of his bravery and quick action, Drake was awarded a Citizen Service Award. He also received an Atlanta Braves cap and shirt, along with four tickets to a Braves game.

The story of Drake’s heroism made an impact. Comments on the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office Facebook post were filled with admiration and pride. “So proud of you, Drake,” read one comment, while another simply stated, “That’s amazing.” Drake himself remains humble about the event, reflecting on the impact of his actions: “I did something that could save a lot of people’s lives on the interstate. That is something Mighty Man or someone would do.” 

For Cpl. Matthew Holder, who took Drake’s 911 call, it was a profoundly moving experience: “It was just amazing, probably one of the most touching calls that I have ever taken since I have been at 911.”

Sources: People | Atlanta News First