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El Mirage boys struck by lightning thank their rescuers

Rescue crews humbly said they were just doing their job.

EL MIRAGE, Ariz. – Three weeks after getting struck by lightning, two boys were able to walk into El Mirage Fire Station 121, to recognize the people who saved their lives.

An emotional mother, Krista Wiedman, was forever grateful after an everyday citizen and nine first responders saved her son, Josiah Wiedman, and his friend, Javier Tapia.

“I’m so honored to be standing here, not at my son’s funeral,” Krista Wiedman said.

“They should deserve the spotlight, not me,” Josiah Wiedman said.

The group was honored Thursday, for helping two boys struck by lightning at an El Mirage park.

A surveillance camera caught the unbelievable moment.

Cory Cieszynski ran out of his home after he heard the bolt to find two boys on the ground. Josiah Wiedman was unconscious.

“I checked for a pulse and there wasn’t one, which is kind of scary, and then I just started doing CPR,” Cieszynski said, adding “I didn’t really think of anything. I just did it.”

The two lucky boys finally got the chance to express their gratitude three weeks later.

“Thank you, thank you for that,” Tapia told Cieszynski.

“Of course man, I’m just glad I could be there,” Cieszynski replied.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done, now I can actually live my whole life,” Wiedman said.

This was the first time Kevin Spoljarick and Travis Slater with the El Mirage Police Dept. got to see the boys before it all happened.

“I mean, the most important thing is knowing that they’re okay,” Spoljarick said.

Rescue crews humbly said they were just doing their job.

“It’s always great to be recognized, but we don’t live for that, you know. We got into this job just to help people," Captain Joseph Rivera said.

“They’re the ones who actually kept me alive and are the reason why I’m still walking on this earth,” Wiedman said.

The Chief of the El Mirage Fire Department emphasized the importance of people knowing how to administer first aid. He said the chances of someone’s survival increased if they received CPR.

People can contact their local fire departments for more information on how to learn this skill.

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