The teenager who helped save a Dade County deputy's life is now going to EMT school for free.
Major Tommy Bradford is in the hospital recovering after a woman ran him over. Many people helped Major Bradford after he was hit including an 18-year-old who was the first on the scene.
"It's amazing. I can't even tell you what I'm feeling," Amanda Delay, mother of the teenager who helped Major Tommy Bradford, said. "I don't have words to describe how I feel inside."
"Bradley, who we consider to be a hero," Major Bradford's Pastor John Smith said.
Being a hero is not an easy title to live up to, but ask anyone at Piney Grove Baptist Church about 18-year-old Bradley Nelson, and they'll tell you Bradley is a hero.
"Bradley's a hero, and we wanted to recognize him because he hasn't had any recognition," Pastor Smith explained.
Bradley was driving to meet family about two weeks ago when he saw Dade County deputy Major Tommy Bradford get run over by a car. He immediately stopped to help and applied a tourniquet to his leg.
"I was parked on the side of the road, and it just kind of happened," Bradley recalled.
Sunday during church, Major Bradford called in. He talked about how composed Bradley was that day and how much it helped him.
"We go in every day thinking it's going to be normal, and it wasn't that day," Major Bradford said over the phone. "Things happen for a reason. I accept this challenge He's [God] gave me, and I'm going to move on, get this behind me and do whatever He's calling me to do. But what he did for me that day, I'll never forget."
It was after that experience that Bradley decided to enroll in EMT school.
"It's always been in my heart to help people," Bradley said.
Major Bradford's church family gave Bradley a scholarship to pay for his EMT classes.
A way to say thank you and to make sure Bradley can continue helping others.
"It feels good, but it kind of gets yourself to say oh I actually did this," Bradley said.
Bradley will start classes in September.