CNN Hero: Jordan Thomas

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Noah Parton, 6, got prosthetics from foundation started by Jordan Thomas, right.

CNN Heroes

An annual family boating trip to the Florida Keys took a bloody and life-changing turn for Jordan Thomas.

"It was a beautiful day, and we were going to go scuba diving," said Thomas, who was 16 during the 2005 trip.

But when he jumped into the water, the boat's wake dragged Thomas hard into sharp, whirling propellers.

He immediately knew what was about to happen.

"I looked down - my black fins were gone, and all I saw was red just everywhere," said Thomas, an athletic teen who was captain of his high school's golf team. "But I had this unbelievable calmness over my body."

His father and mother, both doctors from Chattanooga, Tennessee, jumped into action.

"All of a sudden, my 16-year old, happy-go-lucky captain of the golf team was potentially dying," said Dr. Liz Kennedy-Thomas.

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