Gilbert fire department to recognize 14-year-old at town council meeting
Royal Cothrun was riding his bicycle in June in Gilbert, a town southeast of Phoenix, when he noticed Theresa Morgan struggling to walk in the extreme heat, according to the Gilbert Fire Department and reporting by KNXV. Cothrun told KNXV that he slowed down because “she just looked like something was wrong.”
“I knew it was hot,” Cothrun said. “She was sweating.”
Morgan, who turned 76 in July, had recently been diagnosed with dementia, authorities said. She had become disoriented returning from a grocery store, a situation the fire department described as a serious emergency because prolonged exposure to temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit can cause life-threatening heatstroke.
Cothrun accompanied Morgan to shade and helped her recall her son’s telephone number. He then called Jeff Morgan and informed him of the situation with his mother. Cothrun stayed with Theresa until Jeff and Gilbert fire crews arrived.
The heatwave that swept across parts of the United States from June through early July has been linked to at least two dozen deaths, according to officials.
Jeff Morgan told KNXV that he believed Cothrun’s actions may have saved his mother’s life. “It’s incredible, really, what he did,” Jeff said. “Just so lucky, so fortunate, that he ran across her and he cared enough to stay with her and to take care of her.”
The Gilbert Fire and Rescue Department echoed that assessment. Battalion Chief Ryan McHugh said the department planned to honor Cothrun at a town council meeting.
“Royal’s quick thinking and compassion not only protected a vulnerable member of our community — but also highlighted the real dangers posed by Arizona’s extreme heat,” McHugh said. “His actions remind us all to stay alert and look out for one another, especially during the summer months when heat-related illnesses can become life-threatening.”