Zach Curnutt said he didn't think twice when he saw his neighbor floating in an apartment complex pool nonresponsive.

“I was doing what I would normally do,” Curnutt said.

On Sept. 14, Curnutt, 13, pulled his neighbor, Courtney Jackson, 21, out of a swimming pool at an apartment complex south of downtown Parker when he noticed she was floating with just her ears above water. Jackson had made a dive into the pool and hit her head on the bottom, putting her body in shock. Jackson said she guessed seven seconds must have gone by before Curnutt jumped in—a long dive into the pool—to save her.

“I didn't feel his hands grab me. I couldn't feel anything. I noticed when I flipped over and felt more scared for him,” Jackson said.

South Metro Fire Rescue paramedics responded and took Jackson to a nearby hospital.

“I've told him that tons of times—that he's my hero and that he saved me,” Jackson said.

On Dec. 12, Curnutt was surprised at his school, Sagewood Middle School, when he walked into a room full of friends, family and South Metro Fire Rescue first responders who came to celebrate Curnutt and his heroic action. Curnutt is certified in CPR and said he hopes to be a firefighter or paramedic when he grows up. South Metro first responders gave Curnutt a certificate of appreciation. Hieand his friends took a tour of a fire truck and ambulance parked in the school's parking lot.

Jackson suffered a compressed spinal cord from diving into the pool. After several CT scans following her injury, doctors discovered a congenital defect that should have caused her to become severely paralyzed. At first, all she could move was her left hand. It took two hours before she could walk again.

Curnutt and Jackson have been neighbors since Curnutt was born. Their families have always been close, Jackson said, and she used to babysit for him when Curnutt was younger.

Curnutt visited Jackson in the hospital and comforted her during her recovery. They remain close.

“He's like a little brother to me,” Jackson said. “He has the biggest heart you'll ever know.”

Today, she still loses some feeling in her hands, but is getting back to her normal life again. Jackson works at Topgolf and is a junior studying international business at Metro State University.

Curnutt's parents, Grace and Ron, said it's not shocking that Curnutt jumped into the pool no questions asked.

“You would expect something like this would happen somewhere along the way,” Ron Curnutt said. “He has the biggest heart. He's always seeking opportunities to help other people and immediately goes into action.”