Ontario brothers rescue Quebec couple at resort

Two Ontario teenagers are being hailed as heroes after rescuing a Quebec couple while on vacation in the Dominican Republic.

Brothers Derek and Troy McInroy of Bellville, 15 and 13, were playing in the water at the Viva Wyndham Tangerine resort in Puerto Plata when they heard screaming: a French Canadian couple was being swept out to sea.

"I kind of though it was a joke at first," Troy told Jason Miller of QMI Agency. "They were yelling in French. The girl yelled out, 'Help! Help!' And that's when I started swimming."

The couple, both gasping for air, couldn't fight the strong undertows.

Fortunately, the brothers had lifeguard and CPR training — something they've since thanked their mother for insisting they have — and swam to their rescue.

Derek reached the husband and lifted his head above water until the hotel's rescue crew arrived.

Within 15 minutes, the couple and their heroes were back on shore.

"We felt good knowing that we helped somebody out," Derek said. "It made us realize that you should always be prepared for anything to happen."

That evening, the rescued couple formally thanked the McInroys for risking their lives for them.