15-year-old Dighton Junior Firefighter awarded for saving a girl’s life

DIGHTON, Mass. (WLNE) — A Dighton Junior Firefighter was awarded for saving a person’s life this past summer at the National First Responders Day Celebration in Times Square on Monday morning.

15-year-old Benjamin Courville received the Junior Firefighter Hero Award for saving a girl that was choking at a local restaurant.

According to officials, Courville asked the girl if she was choking, and when she nodded her head yes, he gave her the ‘Heimlich maneuver’ to clear the food blocking her throat.

“Ben’s story is a testament to the values of service, dedication, and community that define the first responder profession,” National First Responders Day Celebration Master of Ceremonies Speaker Janice Dean said.

Courville plans to enter the fire academy and paramedic program when he turns 18.