Last summer a day on Wall Lake almost turned deadly. 15 year-old Brandon Larson is paralyzed from the waist down and couldn't free himself when a wave swept over his family's boat.

Brandon lived because another boater saw what was going on and pulled him to safety. That boater, Ryan Jorgensen received one of the highest honors a service organization can give.

The award is the Robert P. Connelly award, and it's handed out by the Kiwanis International Foundation. It was created more than 40 years ago and as far as anyone can remember, no one from this region has ever received it. Until now.

It's a terrifying scene. A day on the water turned so wrong. A child on a backboard, loaded into a helicopter and flown to a hospital fighting for his life.

That was the scene on Wall Lake last June 11th. Ryan Jorgensen and his girlfriend were trying out his new jet ski. And saw something was wrong. "They were screaming he's stuck underwater. And I knew there was a paraplegic boy on the boat."

Ryan dove in. After three long minutes under water he was able to free Brandon's trapped foot and bring him up for air. Brandon made a quick recovery and was there a week later when Minnehaha County Sheriff Mike Milstead saluted Ryan's quick work. "Because of you today Brandon is able to enjoy the morning sun and all that life has to offer."

Ryan, who's goal is to be a firefighter thought that was it and life would get back to normal.

But members of the local Kiwanis Club saw the reports of what Ryan did.

Chuck Schroder called Ryan and asked if he could nominate him for a couple awards. When they went to the regional meeting this weekend Ryan knew he'd be getting a Citizenship Award. But Chuck had a surprise for him. The Connelly Award. Only about 500 have been handed out worldwide in 40 years. "When you get to meet him and you get to visit with him, you find out what type of young man, a 19 year old boy that works 72 hours a week on his job. And his goal is to be a fireman you really understand why he is so deserving of this award."

Ryan had no clue. "And then they called my name and i was, I don't know. I was really surprised. I didn't see it coming."

And Ryan's service in extreme conditions didn't end last summer. Since then he helped stabilized and care for his boss who was having a heart attack and he was the first on the scene of a vehicle crash where a young woman lost control on the ice and rolled her car.