METAIRIE, La – At Archbishop Rummel High School.
He sits in ninth grade Spanish class.
He’s ninth grader Stephen Campbell.
Down the hall from him, his best friend Hayden Cantillo gets religion.
What do these two 14-year-old best friends like best?
WGNO News with a Twist features guy Wild Bill Wood says it’s in a word.
And that’s fishing.
They’ve been fishing forever.
Stephen caught a shark when he was eleven.
Hayden reeled in a 40-pounder when he was just a kid.
But it’s their latest fishing tale they live to tell.
They went fishing for bass.
Stephen caught a alligator!
A 6-foot gator bigger than both of them together.
The gator took a big, long bite into Stephen’s hand.
His thumb mostly.
Hayden called 911.
Paramedics took Stephen to the hospital where he spent five days and got stitches to save his thumb.
Recognized for their bravery by the Jefferson Parish Council, these two have no time to be heroes.
They have a place to go.
It’s right back to their favorite fishing hole.