Board of Works, police department honors Logansport teenager with Citizens Lifesaving Award

The Board of Public Works and Safety honored a young Logansport hero at their weekly meeting Wednesday: 16-year-old Logansport High School student Kaleb Loman.

The teen received thunderous applause from dozens of community and family members who stuffed into the meeting room as he accepted a Citizens Lifesaving Award for his efforts in rescuing his family from an electrocuted pool.

On Aug. 25, Kaleb, along with his mother, father, 10-year-old sister and her 10-year-old friend were electrocuted while in their pool due to a faulty wire. Kaleb was able to get out of the pool along with his mother, Katie, who shut off the power. The 16-year-old then went back in to rescue his father, who was unconscious and had begun to fall to the bottom, according to a letter read by Logansport Police Chief Travis Yike at the meeting.

After Kaleb pulled his father from the water, he grabbed his sister and her friend from the water. Lifesaving CPR was performed on the victims. While Kaleb's father, Dave, called 911, Kaleb ran to the road to meet and escort the first responders to the victims.

"The actions of this young man left little for first responders to do," Yike wrote in the letter, which he read aloud in the meeting. "What he did prior to first responders arriving on scene is what mattered, saving the lives of three individuals that day. All family members and friends were released from the hospital and are recovering well."

The board and Yike invited Kaleb up to receive a Citizens Lifesaving Award, before Logansport mayor Chris Martin issued a proclamation in Kaleb's name. Although Kaleb himself was injured, he took it upon himself, once the power was shut off, to recognize what was going on and save his father, sister and her friend, he wrote in the proclamation. The mayor then gifted Kaleb a key to the city.

"I have never heard of a story like this, especially in our community," Martin said at the meeting. "And so, I have given away two keys to the city so far in my administration, you will be number three today."

Kaleb said he was surprised about winning the award, but it felt good. In regard to his actions that day, he said he had to do what had to be done. Katie said he had just earned his life guard certification in the summer and has worked at pools.

"[I'm] thankful for that experience that allowed him to be able to do all of this, to be able to help," Katie said. "So, definitely couldn't have done it without him, so [he's] definitely a hero."

Katie said she couldn't be prouder of her son. She said what had happened was a lot to take in and surreal, but knowing they had support from the community was very humbling and inspiring.

"A hundred things had to happen exactly right for all of us to be alive, and God made sure that every single one of them happened," Dave said.