KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A Knoxville family is thanking the Knoxville Fire Department for saving their son's life.
It started with the call no parent ever wants to get.
"He called me and told me that he was stuck in a chimney," said Kristina Humphrey. "He had fallen from the top and stopped four feet from the bottom."
Humphrey's son, 18-year-old Hunter Haskill, and a friend were climbing on the roof of Belle Morris Elementary School.
They've done it plenty of times before.
"Hunter didn't know it was a chimney. He thought it was a tower and when he went to go step, he fell," said Humphrey.
He fell about 60 feet.
Twelve Knoxville firefighters responded and worked for about an hour to get him out.
After two weeks in the UT Trauma Center and more time recovering in therapy, Hunter is doing well.
"They said it would probably take another six months for him to learn how to walk again," said Humphrey.
She wanted to thank the firefighters for saving her son, and was able to meet those heroes Thursday night.
"I don't know how I could ever pay them back for what they did," said Humphrey. "I still have my son because of them."
Jason Woodson was one of the firefighters who helped Hunter that night.
"Our biggest concern was where is he at in here? We could hear him hollering, we just didn't know how far down he was," said Woodson.
He remembers Hunter being covered in soot.
"To see him walking around on his own with crutches, getting up moving around, was pretty amazing," said Woodson.
He said it's special when firefighters can meet the people they saved.
"We don't see it often, but when we do it kind of warms your heart a little," said Woodson.
It was an emotional meeting for the family, who said they owe it all to KFD.
"Thank you so much," said Humphrey. "Y'all have no idea. I don't know how I can ever repay you."
Humphrey wants to see action taken to make sure no more kids can access the roof at Belle Morris or any other school.
She hopes to address the Knox County School Board when Hunter's intense therapy ends.
Hunter Haskill was cited with burglary and underage consumption after falling and getting stuck in the chimney of Belle Morris Elementary School, according to the Knox County records.