INDIANAPOLIS — Perry Meridian senior Austin Ney says high school has been everything he dreamed of and more.
"It's been amazing all four years here. I've learned so many valuable things and life lessons," Ney said.
Many of those lessons are from a fire-and-rescue class he started taking his sophomore year.
"This year, I saw there was an EMT program, and I said, 'you know, let's give this a try, too,'" Ney said. "I really enjoyed it and couldn't ask for anything better."
Ney said while he was taking his senior pictures out at the canal, there was a man riding his bicycle nearby. The man's gun accidentally went off and he shot himself in the side. That's when Ney said he stopped his session and put all of his training into action.
"I asked everyone to back away nicely and calmly, and I went over and took my flannel off and put it directly on his gunshot wound and held it there," Ney said.
The photographer caught it all on camera. Ney said a few other people stepped in to help until EMS arrived.
"You just kind of get that feeling where you are just like 'this person is hurt, and he just needs somebody there with him,' and as soon as I heard that and he just started screaming for help, I knew there was no time to delay, and he needed help," Ney said.
According to Ney, the victim was taken to the hospital. Ney told 13News he hasn't heard anything else about him but hopes he is doing OK.
Ney said this moment will serve as a reminder of why he wants to save more lives in the future.
"I firmly believe that if somebody needs help, you give them the best help you can give," Ney said.
When Ney graduates, he will have two more tests to take for his EMS certification, and he hopes to work for a local fire department.