Eli Wittum

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By Kathy Chaffin

kchaffin@salisburypost.com

CLEVELAND — An Eagle Scout here has received the highest award for bravery presented by the Boy Scouts of America for his heroic actions in saving the life of a drowning teenager at RiverPark in Cooleemee last May.

Eli Wittum, 17, was presented the Boy Scout Medal of Honor with Cross Palms last Thursday at the annual Friends of Scouting meeting at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The medal is rarely awarded, and only a few more than 200 Scouts nationally have received the honor. The crossed palms signify saving a life at great risk to one's own.

The Yadkin River, on which RiverPark (formerly known as the Bullhole) is located, was flooded on May 30, 2009, following a period of heavy rains. The rapids were similar to ocean waves crashing, and the water was thick with mud.

Wittum, a junior at West Rowan High School, had been swimming with a friend about 5 feet from shore when he heard screams coming from upstream, according to a June 6, 2009, Post article about the rescue. The undertow had pulled 15-year-old Marlo Porfirio Ramos more than 100 yards before Wittum rushed into the middle of the river to help him.

When Wittum reached the teen, Ramos frantically grasped him around the neck. After Wittum freed himself, Ramos sank under the water and didn't surface for more than 10 seconds.

After diving underwater, Wittum pulled Ramos above the surface, and the two teens floated another 200 feet down the river and out of sight.

Wittum was able to swim close enough to the edge of the river to grab a low hanging tree limb, and some local fishermen helped him get Ramos up on the bank where he was going in and out of consciousness. After checking Ramos' pulse and breathing, Wittum called 911 on a cell phone.

An ambulance transported Ramos to the hospital. He was able to return to Davie High School the following week.

Wittum said the values and skills he learned in Boy Scouts with Troop 320 — sponsored by the Woodleaf Civitans — helped him to make the rescue.

He thanked Scoutmaster Jim Redmond as well as Rick Barrier, assistant Scoutmaster and his father, Jimmy Wittum, also an assistant Scoutmaster, for all the time they spent working with him and teaching him.

Wittum is the son of Jimmy Wittum and Cyndi Allison Wittum. His brother, Caleb Wittum, is also an Eagle Scout. His grandparents are Evelyn and Harry Looney and the late Bob Allison.

Bob Allison was a long-term Scoutmaster in the area and helped many local boys reach the Eagle level. Unfortunately, Allison died in a traffic accident shortly before Eli Wittum received his Eagle Scout award.

Wittum said his grandfather played a large role in helping him develop the character to put his own life on the line to save another.

Contact Kathy Chaffin at 704-797-4249.