What Steve Stikna of Naples imagined would be a relaxing swim in the pool turned into what his wife, Dorothy, witnessed as the fight of his life.
"He was face down, and he was very heavy," Dorothy said. "I couldn't lift his head up, so when I realized that, which was right away, I started screaming for help."
Thankfully, Dorothy's cries for help didn't go unheard.
"I see my mom," said 13-year-old Maurice. "She's over on the other side looking at the neighbors. I know in my mind that somethings wrong."
The Stikna's neighbors, Maurice and Zachary Wilson, knew they had to help.
"I just sprinted over here. I just see her in the water holding her husband up, just crying," Maurice said.
"I was just kind of shocked because I wasn't expecting that," said 15-year-old Zachary.
Maurice and Zachary jumped into the pool to hold Steve steady and prevent him from going underwater.
Not only did Maurice's selfless act save Steve's life, but it helped further his own.
"We want you to join us," said Lt. Robbie Schank, as the North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District offered Maurice a scholarship to Florida Southwestern State College's Firefighter I and II programs.
"I felt like I earned it," Maurice said. "I felt like I earned to shake the hand of the chief of fire."
As for Steve, while he plans to get in the pool and swim again, he takes this lesson with him.
"I'm a stroke survivor, so I'm on a lot of meds. I'm doing really well but not 100 percent," Steve said. "If all these people didn't come together, I know I wouldn't be talking to you right now. That day, I did everything wrong. I really didn't have much to eat, and I wasn't hydrating. Now I make sure I'm hydrated, I'm drinking water and sugar-free Gatorade."