Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes their bravery shines brightest in the most challenging situations. This was the case for a young boy who performed an extraordinary act of courage to save his family. Stranded in a river, he swam for an hour to get help.

Seven-year-old Chase Poust was with his father, Stephen, and his four-year-old sister, Abigail, enjoying the start of Memorial Day weekend on the water. They were near Jacksonville, Florida, in the St. John’s River at an area known as Mandarin Point. The boat was anchored while Stephen was spot fishing, and the children were swimming nearby.

However, Stephen misjudged the strength of the current, and it wasn’t long before Abigail, who was wearing a life jacket, began drifting away from the boat. Chase recounted, “The current was so strong that my sister—she usually hangs out at the back of the boat—and she let go. So, I let go of the boat and grabbed her, and then I was stuck.”

Chase, who wasn’t wearing a life jacket, knew he had to help his sister. Stephen also jumped into the river to grab Abigail, but she continued to drift further from the boat. Stephen recalled, “I told them I loved them because I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. I tried to stick with both of them. I wore myself out. She drifted away from me.”

VIDEO BELOW!

Despite his fear, Chase swam to shore, doggy paddling and floating on his back when needed. He swam for an hour against the current before reaching land and running for help.

Stephen said, “I screamed for help at the top of my lungs and waved my arms, and sure enough, someone heard us. Little man also made it to shore and got help, and that’s what saved our lives.”

About an hour later, Stephen and Abigail were rescued from the river with the help of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Sheriff’s Office. They were about a mile away from the boat when they were rescued.

A spokesperson for the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department stated, “We had every resource we could have possibly had coming quickly, and we’re happy to say all three have been recovered, and all three are doing well. We couldn’t ask for a better outcome.”

Watch this video to learn more about what happened: