Gov. Perry presents Eagle Scout award

AUSTIN, TEXAS (KXAN) - Eagle Scout Regan Hunt received the Honor Medal with Crossed Palms , which is Scouting's highest lifesaving honor, for pulling five people from a whirlpool inside an irrigation canal.

Hunt saved the lives of four friends from drowning in an Idaho swimming hole, despite getting sucked into the whirlpool and breaking his arm. His injury didn't stop him from performing CPR on a fifth victim until EMS could arrive. Unfortunately, the fifth didn't survive - but he survived long enough for his parents to travel from Germany and see him before he died, thanks to Hunt's actions.

Gov. Rick Perry, himself a Distinguished Eagle Scout, attended today’s ceremony and personally presented Hunt with the Honor Medal.

Since the Boy Scouts of America began presenting these awards in 1923, fewer than 250 Scouts nationwide have been recognized with the Honor Medal with Crossed Palms. A Scout is considered for this honor only if he "demonstrated both unusual heroism and extraordinary skill or resourcefulness in saving or attempting to save life at extreme risk to self."