The City of Truesdale recently honored a 15-year-old young man who saved the life of one of his friends thanks to training he received online.

During the Truesdale Board of Aldermen’s April 22 meeting, Mayor Jerry Cannon issued a proclamation honoring Cameron Beckering for his swift actions that helped save the life of one of his friends.

Cameron Beckering said the incident happened on March 28, when he was informed that a friend of his was lying unresponsive on Banner Street in Truesdale. Beckering said when he arrived on scene the boy was passed out and appeared to have fallen off his bike. Beckering said there were people around the boy, but that they advised Beckering not to touch him.

“I knew that wouldn’t be good,” Beckering said of not intervening to save his friend.

He said when he reached his friend he had no pulse and was “kind of cold.”

“I tried to give him a sternum rub, but that didn’t work,” Beckering said.

Beckering followed the sternum rub with chest compressions for approximately 30 seconds to a minute, after which his friend came to.

Beckering said when his friend became responsive, “he couldn’t feel anything, he was kind of in a daze.”

He said he stayed with his friend until emergency medical personnel from the Warren County Ambulance District and the Warrenton Fire Protection District came to transport the young man to the hospital.

Beckering’s father said he didn’t find out about his son’s life-saving activities until a day later.

“I am so, so proud of him,” Joe Beckering said.

Cameron Beckering said he learned how to perform CPR online and through a program at his school Missouri Connections Academy.

Joe Beckering said he honestly had no idea his son had learned life-saving skills online.

Cameron Beckering said the proclamation he received from Truesdale was a huge surprise.

Joe Beckering, who works for the city’s public works department, said that Cameron was being considered for a summer position with the city and that he told his son he needed to come to the April 22 board meeting in order to be interviewed by the mayor and the aldermen for the position.

It wasn’t until Mayor Jerry Cannon said Cameron’s name and asked him to come up to the dais that he realized he was actually receiving an award.

“I was shocked honestly, I had no idea that would happen,” Cameron Beckering said. “I feel honored that they gave me an award for doing that. Honored, grateful and proud.”

Joe Beckering described his son receiving such an honor from the city he works for as “awesome.”