Karson Dieter is an unlikely hero. He's an 11-year-old boy with autism. He's also a boyscout with a lot of courage, "I am a hero," he added.
He's quietly confident, aware of what he can do but doesn't brag about it. Last week, he rescued an 80-year-old woman from a pit bull attack. He says it was a life or death situation, "I wanted to show that I'm a true boyscout and that autistic people can do a lot of things and also to save her."
He used a stick to distract the dog and got bit in the process. Wounds he didn't even show his mom, Cheryl at first. "He had gone upstairs after he got bit and his little sister bandaged him up and I had no clue," Cheryl Dieter said.
He was more concerned about the woman he saved, Emojean McDonald. Her wounds were severe and took 30 stitches to close. Her right arm and hand are still badly bruised.
McDonald said, "I just can't thank him enough, I think he was my angel from god...if he hadn't did what he did, I'm sure I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you right now, that dog would have killed me."
Karson's heroic deed earned him an award from Visalia Unified. At school, the teachers are proud of him and the kids all know what he did.
Claire Collins said, "I think it's good to let people know, even though Karson has autism it's not getting in the way of him doing anything."
He didn't do it for recognition and he didn't fully explain the reasons for his actions on camera. But he did tell his mom, "he said, I just knew that if I didn't do something to help her, I could never live with myself and I thought wow, that's a big thought for a young man," Cheryl Dieter added.
The pit bull was captured and taken to the pound. It's owners have since apologized to Emojean McDonald.
TXT 24
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