A man was having a heart attack roadside. These teens saved his life

What began as a stop to help a stranded driver with a flat tire turned into a life-saving rescue for three Florida teenagers now being hailed as heroes in their community.

Officials in Cooper City said Cooper City High School students Logan Royer, 16, Cody Magrone, 16, and Brody Murray, 17, likely saved a 65-year-old man’s life after recognizing he was suffering a medical emergency and calling 911.

The teens had stopped at a McDonald’s on South Flamingo Road last month before heading out to go fishing when they noticed a man pulled over on the roadside struggling to change a tire, according to releases from the City of Cooper City and the Broward Sheriff's Office.

Authorities said Fernandez-Delgado was having trouble breathing and experiencing chest pain. Medical personnel later determined he had suffered a heart attack, and first responders said the teenagers’ quick actions likely saved his life.

According to authorities, the students stayed calm while speaking with the 911 operator, accurately answering questions and relaying information because Fernandez-Delgado was too ill to communicate clearly.

Officials said the teens also followed instructions from dispatchers while trying to keep Fernandez-Delgado safe and comfortable on the side of the road until help arrived.

Teens recognized for quick thinking

City leaders later honored Royer, Magrone and Murray during the May 12 recognition ceremony at Cooper City Hall, praising the teenagers for their quick thinking and willingness to help a stranger in distress.

City officials said the students’ actions reflected the compassion and sense of community that define Cooper City, noting the teens chose to help a stranger before they even realized the severity of the emergency.

"These young men saw someone in need and didn't hesitate," Cooper City Mayor James Curran said during the recognition ceremony. "They stepped out and they saved a life. That's what Cooper City's all about."

Curran also praised the teenagers for remaining calm during the emergency and stepping in to help a stranger in distress.

"They demonstrated incredible maturity and awareness of their surroundings," he said. "They represent Cooper City at its very best."

In a video shown later during the special recognition meeting, Royer recalled the moment he realized the situation was far more serious than a flat tire.

"When Cody and Brody were changing the tire, I noticed him sitting in the passenger seat and he was breathing heavily and sweating a lot, not really speaking to me," Royer said. "It was just very shocking. I thought he was having a heat stroke at first."

Their actions, officials said, serve as a reminder of how quickly a simple act of kindness can turn into a life-saving moment.

'God didn’t send angels with wings, He sent those boys'

Fernandez-Delgado’s family said the outcome could have been very different if the teenagers had not stopped to help.

His son, Cristian Fernandez, said his father realized the situation was becoming dire after the tire blew and he began experiencing chest pain without access to a working phone.

"God didn’t send angels with wings," Cristian Fernandez said in a statement released by the Broward Sheriff’s Office. "He sent those boys."

Fernandez-Delgado also praised the teenagers for staying with him during the frightening ordeal.

"When I saw that I couldn't do it anymore, you lose hope," Fernandez-Delgado told NBC News. "And then I heard their voices."

Deputies from the Broward Sheriff’s Office Cooper City District and Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue personnel responded to the scene and transported Fernandez-Delgado to Memorial Hospital West for treatment.

He has since returned home and is recovering after undergoing several medical procedures, officials said.

Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at [email protected], or on Twitter @athompsonUSAT