While vacationing

in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Greg Farmer of Peachtree City planned just to

have a good time, see a few sights, and catch up with his wife, who was

there on a special work assignment.

He didn't imagine

he would become a hero for saving a local boy who was drowning in the

ocean.

Farmer, 41,

was recently presented with medals from the American Red Cross for risking

his life to save the 12-year-old boy in January of 2002.

Farmer didn't

swim out totally unprepared. He was a competitive swimmer in high school

and he had taken an advanced lifesaving class in college.

Farmer was

also fed by adrenaline as he swam out to the boy only to find him unconscious,

purple and barely breathing. The gravity of the situation drained his

excitement as Farmer realized he was the boy's only hope.

On the way

back, he realized that the pool training hadn't prepared him for an ocean

rescue.

As Farmer brought

the boy