A local hero was awarded at the McMinnville city Board of Mayor and Alderman meeting on Tuesday evening.

On Oct. 26, Wyatt Tanner acted quickly in an emergency and helped his neighbor receive medical assistance. The ten-year-old’s father Justin told the Standard, “Wyatt was playing in the front yard at home when he saw an elderly neighbor fall off of a bicycle while riding down a small hill in his yard. When the neighbor didn’t immediately get up or move after a few seconds, Wyatt realized that the situation was very serious.”

The neighbor fell off his bike in view of Wyatt, and he sprung into action. Justin continued, “So he sprinted inside the house and found his mother, Shay, who is a nurse.  He told her that the neighbor had fallen off of his bike, urged her to the living room window, pointed at the neighbor still lying on the ground, and said ‘We have to help him now!’

“Wyatt and Shay ran across the street to assess the situation. After calling 911, they rolled the still-unconscious neighbor onto his side and applied pressure to a cut above his eye with a clean wash cloth provided by Wyatt’s sister, Caroline. The three of them stayed with the neighbor until first responders arrived. It was later reported that Wyatt’s quick action kept a very serious situation from becoming much worse.”

The neighbor’s thankful wife informed Mayor Ryle Chastain of the incident, and Wyatt was presented with a plaque on Tuesday, recognizing his “Meritorious Service.”

Mayor Chastain said at the city Board meeting, “Before we take any public comment, I would like to recognize Wyatt Tanner. On Oct. 26, due to his attentiveness and quick thinking he, as I understand it, quite literally saved the life of a neighbor. And I would like to present him for a Meritorious Service award for quick and thoughtful action on Oct. 26, 2022 to aid a fellow citizen experiencing a medical emergency.”

Justin said the neighbor’s family also gifted Wyatt with a “Hero” pin, a card, balloons and gift cards for his actions.