Winkler teen Andrew Seymour was recently recognized with a Rescue and Honour Award from the Lifesaving Society of Manitoba.

The award was presented by the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba.

"It was quite the honour," Seymour's mother Allison says.

Two year ago, at the age of 12, Seymour responded couragously and calmly after the small boat he was riding in, together with his parents, capsized.

The boat flipped onto Allison who didn't know how to swim. "I didn't know what to do... I had no idea how I would get out, and all-of-a-sudden I was out from under it and my son was saying, "you're ok mom.'"

She later learned Andrew pulled her out from under the boat, "so quickly I didn't know what happened."

Andrew took charge, instructing his parents to hold onto the overturned craft, reassuring them as he swam the craft towards the shore.

"I can't put into words how it makes me feel... for him to step up to the plate at 12 years old... when we should've been taking care him he was taking care of us."

Allison says Andrew was almost too shy to receive recognition for his actions. "He just assumed it was something everyone would do, but now he realizes what he did was pretty special."

Looking back, Allison thanks the lifeguards and staff at the Winkler Aquatic Centre for their swimming lessons program. "They taught him to swim and gave him the confidence."

While he may have a strong resume to enter a career in emergency services, Allison says he would prefer to stay dry by entering the field of archeology or paleontology.

Regardless, Allison says the incident should alter people's perspective on the next generation. "I think they will change the world, or maybe save it."

Submitted photos