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Samantha Hayes ReportingAll the father-son talks about safety and responsibility paid off for a Utah family after an accident with an ATV. The family roles reversed because this time, the three little boys had to save their father.
The three boys know their father is proud of them, now the Red Cross honored them as true heroes in our community.
Bounding over sand dunes in Delta, the three Fleischer boys look like trouble on four wheels. But shortly after these shapshots were taken, all three of them, 11-year old Brenden, 9-year old Jamen, and 6-year old Ethan, showed maturity far beyond their years.
Thomas Fleischer: "I did go over the handle bars of my 4 wheeler. It came around and landed on top of me. Broke my pelvis, and at the time I couldn't stand up or walk. My 4 wheeler was on its side so it took all three of the boys to push it back over to get me back on the 4 wheeler. Had to ride back to the truck a mile away."
Thomas Fleischer had just talked to his boys about safety.
Brenden Fleischer, 11-years old: "He always said if anybody ever crashes, to get them in the car and to the hospital, and always wear your helmet."
Ethan Fleischer, 6-years old: "I felt sad he was getting hurt so I tipped the 4 wheeler over."
Jamen Fleischer, 9-years old: "I was not thinking a lot of stuff, but I have to get down there and help them."
Brenden: "Me and Jamed loaded up the 4 wheelers and hitched it."
The boys thought their emergency was over when they got their father in the truck, but as he was driving to the hospital in excruciating pain, the vehicle broke down.
Brenden: "I had to flag down cars and it took a long time to tow us."
Thomas Fleischer: "Kids are amazing. You don't know what they are capable of until they are in that situation."
The Red Cross agrees and honored the three boys as community heroes. The best part was making mom proud.
Celeste Fleischer, Mom: "I was really proud of them. It showed me how responsible they are and what great kids they are."
Thomas Fleischer says he believes it's never too early to teach kids safety lessons. He said his sons got him out of a situation he could not have handled on his own.
