Several receive Medal of Merit for rescues made in Orange County

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Two fishermen who saved the lives of a pilot and his stepdaughter received Orange County's Medal of Merit Tuesday.

Three teenage boys and a doctor were also honored for saving the life of a 6-year-old at an Orlando hotel.

Joao Pacheco and Austin Keaton talked about seeing the plane crash in July.

"I don't think anyone ever expects to see a plane crash when they're out fishing," Keaton said.

The two fishermen headed to the plane as it was sinking into Lake Down.

The pair pulled John Ledford and his 9-year-old stepdaughter into their boat.

“He was holding his little girl up and he wanted to get her on the boat and the first thing he said was, 'Help her. Help her,'" said Pacheco.

"We were just out there fishing and, like, he said someone needed help and we went out there to go help them," said Keaton.

"I went down and I grabbed him and realized it was a little kid, and just acted on instinct," said Stephen Borda.

"We put him on the side, screaming for help," said Santino Borda.

The doctor who performed CPR was not able to attend the ceremony, but the brothers and their friend made sure to praise Dr. Andrew Boulos.

“Really, without that doctor giving him CPR, it would be a different story. Ours was instinct. That doctor really changed the outcome of that," Caprice said.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office presents the awards quarterly.

Sheriff Jerry Demings also spent the day recognizing his deputies who have gone above and beyond.

Cox Media Group