A young hero emerged in Georgia when 10-year-old Drake Linn took the wheel after his grandfather, Hugh Cox, passed out while they were driving along a busy interstate. Last week, this remarkable act not only saved their lives but potentially those of other drivers on the road.
Hugh Cox told “Good Morning America” that he was driving a Ford Expedition SUV, towing his boat on Interstate 75 near Resaca, Georgia, with his grandson Drake in the passenger seat, when he suddenly lost consciousness due to a diabetic coma.
“The last thing I remember, I drifted over to the right lane from the center lane as a truck was blowing its horn at me,” Cox, who has Type 1 diabetes, recalled.
Drake’s mother, Jessica Linn, recounted the episode, saying Drake managed to call her from the SUV. Recognizing the symptoms her son described, she immediately realized her father had likely lapsed into a diabetic coma due to low blood sugar levels.
“His eyes were open, but he was essentially paralyzed. My dad just freezes; it’s like a lockdown,” Linn explained. His glucose monitoring transmitter had stopped working, exacerbating the problem.
“Drake and my dad were at a spot where the phone connection was dropping,” Linn continued. “I told Drake to get on Papa’s lap, grab the steering wheel, and try to slowly drive to the shoulder. I also instructed him to gently press the brake and try to get off the interstate.”
The terrifying incident still brings Linn to tears. She said, “It was a tough position for Drake to be in, but it was his only option. I feared it might be the last time I ever heard his voice, and there was nothing I could do.”
Drake, despite being scared and worried about his grandfather, did as his mom instructed and then called 911. “I got on his lap and drove for about a mile,” Drake recalled. “I pulled over at an exit so I could tell the police officer where we were.”
Gordon County Sheriff Mitch Ralston praised Drake’s quick and heroic actions. “When I heard about this the following morning, I knew Drake deserved recognition for saving his grandfather and possibly the lives of others on the interstate,” Ralston said.
On July 17, the same day as Drake’s 11th birthday, Sheriff Ralston, the sheriff’s office staff, and first responders honored him in a special ceremony. Ralston applauded the young boy, noting, “Drake crawled into his grandfather’s lap, drove the vehicle, and brought it to a safe stop on the emergency line of the interstate. This is extraordinary, considering they were towing a boat and the interstate was congested with traffic.”
Following the incident, Cox received medical attention, including glucose treatment, and acquired a new transmitter from a local pharmacy. He is now doing well.
Both Drake’s parents and his grandfather expressed immense pride in the young boy. “I’m real proud of him. He’s a good boy,” Cox said. Linn added, “Drake was humble about the recognition, but I believe it made him feel very proud. It was his birthday too, so it was a special day.”
For Drake, this experience has given him a lesson in courage and faith. “Whenever you find yourself in a difficult situation, pray to God, stay calm, and do your best to make it work out,” he advised.
