Iowa Teens Save Elderly Woman Stranded in Yard for 16 Hours
Two 13-year-old boys from Fruitland, Iowa, are being recognized as local heroes after rescuing an elderly woman who fell while feeding her horse and lay injured in her yard for over 16 hours. Gunner Skidmore and Kohen Chick found the woman on June 9, leading to a swift rescue that Muscatine County emergency officials say saved her life.
A Morning Bike Ride Turns Into a Rescue Mission
Gunner Skidmore said his day started like any other. He was eating a Pop-Tart and scrolling through social media when his best friend, Kohen Chick, asked if he wanted to ride bikes. The two teens headed out to a local trail that runs by some houses, but they quickly noticed something was wrong.
“I went to the trail and Kohen was like, ‘You see that lady back there?’” Skidmore recalled. “Then, we went back and looked, and it took a little while to find her.”
The boys eventually located an elderly woman who had fallen on her property. She appeared to have been injured while feeding her horse and had rolled from her backyard to the front yard in a desperate attempt to get help.
“I said, ‘Hey ma’am, are you okay?’ She was like, ‘Yeah, I need help. Call 911,’” Skidmore said.
Unsure of what to do at first, Skidmore contacted his mother. She arrived quickly and called emergency services. The woman had been stranded outside since approximately 5 p.m. the evening before. She didn't have her phone or any water.
“She was scared,” Chick said. “You could just tell because like her face, she was covered in all these bugs and stuff.”
Skidmore noted the critical timing of their bike ride. “A few more hours and she definitely like wouldn’t have made it,” he said. The woman was transported by ambulance to a hospital in nearby Muscatine for treatment.
Community Steps Up to Support Recovery
When government assistance falls short, community ties often make the real difference. Skidmore's mother has stayed in contact with the woman's family and is helping care for her horse while she recovers. She also plans to prepare a lasagna for the woman when she returns home from the hospital.
This kind of neighborly support highlights the strength of Iowa communities. Instead of waiting for a state program to step in, local families are taking care of their own. It is a powerful reminder that strong communities are built on personal responsibility and looking out for your neighbors.
Muscatine County Officials Honor Local Heroes
On June 15, Muscatine County Emergency Management Director Christopher Jasper presented the teens with a special award. A spokesperson for the Muscatine County Sheriff's Office confirmed the ceremony.
“Without the prompt actions of Gunner and Kohen, the outcome could have been tragic. Their awareness, compassion, and willingness to help a person in need undoubtedly made a difference and may very well have saved her life,” Jasper said during the ceremony.
How Did the Boys Find the Stranded Woman?
Gunner Skidmore and Kohen Chick spotted the woman while riding their bikes on a local trail in Fruitland, Iowa, on the morning of June 9. They noticed something unusual, investigated, and found the elderly woman lying injured in her front yard after she had rolled there from her backyard.
How Long Was the Woman Stranded Outside?
The elderly woman was stranded outside for over 16 hours. She told the teens she had been lying in her yard since approximately 5 p.m. the previous evening after falling while feeding her horse.
What Award Did the Iowa Teens Receive?
Muscatine County Emergency Management Director Christopher Jasper presented Gunner Skidmore and Kohen Chick with a special award on June 15. The award recognized their quick thinking and compassion, which officials say prevented a tragic outcome for the stranded elderly woman.