Siblings Are Heroes After Saving Their Bus Driver and Keeping the Other Kids Calm

Two Ohio siblings are heroes after they noticed their school bus driver was having trouble breathing. When 8-year-old Catrina noticed something was wrong, she pulled the parking brake while her big brother Charlie handled coms on the two-way radio. Thanks to their quick actions, the bus driver is okay.

No Ordinary Trip to School

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“I ran up there and said, ‘What is wrong?’ and she pointed at her throat, and then I ran back there and got the older kids,” Catrina said.

“She had her radio in the air, and so that’s when I realized something was going on,” Charlie recalled.

Catrina knew they were going down a hill, so she pulled the parking brake.

“When I realized that something was going on, [I] went up there and grabbed the radio and then called the school because I knew that that was the quickest way to get help,” Charlie said.

Siblings are Heroes After Bus Driver Struggles to Breathe

Charlie grabbed the radio, told the receiver their bus number, and alerted them that the driver wasn’t breathing. He says he knows how to call because he watched a few Dukes of Hazzard movies. “You call ‘em and do what needs to be done at the time,” Charlie said. 

An eighth-grader, Kali, also helped by calling 911 and instructing students to stay in the back of the bus. Charlie was a little “shaky,” but he tried to keep all of the children calm. 

Siblings Made Themselves and Their Family Proud

"My brother ... in the inside when something's going wrong, he's scared but on the outside, he's like calm and concentrated," Catrina said, nudging her brother so that he'd smile. 

The siblings’ mom felt an “overwhelmed feeling of joy” when she learned what her kids did. “I was joyful that my kids were knowledgeable enough and knew enough to know what to do, to actually help somebody, legitimately save somebody's life,” their mom said. 

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Catrina said her bus driver is “really cool,” and she’s "proud and happy with myself and happy that we got [the driver] all better now."

“I’m glad that she’s home now and she’s safe,” Charlie said. 

"The actions of these students were truly outstanding," their school superintendent said. "They remained calm, communicated clearly, and helped one another in a situation that could have been much worse. Their families should be incredibly proud." 

Thank God that Catrina and the kids were aware of their surroundings and that the driver is okay!

WATCH: Siblings Are Heroes After Saving Their Bus Driver and Keeping the Other Kids Calm

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h/t: ABC News

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/News 5 Cleveland

Michaela Gordoni is an avid reader and part-time globe-trotter. With a bachelor's degree in International Relations and experience in the non-profit world, she has a passion for people and reporting. You can check out her portfolio here.