This teen saved two friends in three weeks!

Savannah Steele is only 5 feet tall, but she was a giant among her basketball teammates when she saved a fellow player from choking. Just weeks later, she repeated the feat and saved another classmate!

- Bill Holton

This year the Lady Eagles are going all the way!” Olivia Neal shouted over the music. It was the first day of basketball season, and the Osgood, Indiana, senior was celebrating with her teammates at the traditional pregame lunch. Sophomore point guard Savannah Steele was seated to Olivia’s right, and they were both cheering.

But, suddenly, Olivia went silent. A bite of watermelon had lodged in her throat. She couldn’t breathe!

At first, Savannah didn’t realize her friend was in trouble. Olivia hadn’t grabbed her throat—the universal sign of distress Savannah had learned last summer during a Red Cross safety training class to become a lifeguard. But then Olivia sprang out of her chair and began jumping around, arms flailing.