Newington middle schooler credited with helping elderly man who fell in driveway

Last week, a middle schooler in Newington went above and beyond to help a neighbor in need.

An elderly man fell down in his driveway, and 12-year-old Jack Gagnon didn’t hesitate to jump into action and help.

Jack saw the man on his bus ride back home from school. Once he got off the bus, he grabbed his bike and went to check on him.

“I just felt like it was the right thing to do,” Jack said.

That man, Robert Levesque, told us he was going to get his paper but fell down and couldn’t get up.

“When I came back, I fell by the stairs, and he came along and took care of me,” Levesque said.

Justin Thibault with the Newington Police Department said Levesque was alone on the ground for about 20 to 30 minutes.

“The boy tried to help him up and then when he wasn’t physically able to, that’s when they coordinated to call 911,” Thibault said.

Leveque’s daughter, Kerry Arsenault, told us her father has Alzheimer’s.

Without Jack stepping up, there’s no telling how this all could’ve played out.

“I can’t believe that somebody so young and kind helped my dad,” said Arsensault. “It means everything. It gives me hope too, you know, for our future and how special young people are.”

Police emphasized what Jack did was special.

“We went down there and had a conversation with him and his father. We wanted to make sure his father understood how, you know, thankful we were for him and how courageous he was,” Thibault said.

“I’m just glad he’s alright, and I’m glad he didn’t get hurt in the process of him falling,” Jack said. “So I’m just grateful for that.”

Levesque had a message for Jack.

“Thank you.. I really appreciate it. He deserves everything.”

Newington police awarded Jack with the chief’s coin, which is given to someone who goes above and beyond for their community.

As for Levesque and his family, they said they are beyond grateful for Jack’s heroic efforts.

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