Did I really save a kid from drowning the other day?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (238275)
Walnut Creek, California
July 22, 2019 4:15pm CST
I was at the pool with one of Horse Jr.'s younger friends the other day. His dad was there, lounging in a beach chair, and I was right next to the kid, who is four. We were basically playing fetch with me as the golden retriever. He was throwing his Match Box and Hot Wheels cars into the pool, and my assignment was to go fetch them from the bottom. Neither of us had been in the pool yet.
Suddenly, for no particular reason, he lost his balance and fell into the pool. I'm ancient, but my reflexes are still pretty good, and I was in the water and behind him with a second of when he hit the water. I grabbed him (his head was under the water) and lifted him out of the water, kind of like Mufasa lifting Simba above Pride Rock.
His daddy, who was half-way from his chair to the pool, grabbed him and snuggled him in his arms. The child was fine and hadn't taken in any water. At first, he laughed, and said, "I fell in!" Then he realized how scared he had been, and started crying. His daddy said the right thing (in my eyes) as he held his son: "I'm glad you're OK. We're not mad at you. Just be more careful next time."
We have expression here in the US (Do you have the same expression in your Country?): "If you fall off a horse, get right back on." The child and his daddy were back in the pool within a few minutes, playing with me and another young friend of his. All's well that ends well, I suppose.
12 people like this
14 responses
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
22 Jul 19
When my kids were small they swam quite often (pretty much daily starting in April) in a neighbour's pool. I was always there to supervise, but usually by the end of the summer they were pretty much little fish.
My youngest at the time was almost 2 and was toddling around the pool. It was late October and she was no longer getting in the water with her brothers but walking around the edge. Sitting on the ladder at the deep end. But no floatees or life jacket since I watched her like a hawk.
I was chatting with my neighbour as we both supervised the kids until I looked at the deep end and saw the bottoms of my daughter's sandals in the water beside the ladder. I dove into the water (the shallow end no less) and got to her so fast she didn't even sputter. One if the scariest moments of my life. She wasn't scared at all.
It took the older kids a good 15 minutes to find my glasses on the bottom of the pool...and several hours for me to calm down.
3 people like this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
22 Jul 19
@TheHorse Didn't faze her a bit. My stomach still knots up when I remember the incident. The older kids were impressed that I dived into the shallow end, fully clothed.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (208751)
• United States
22 Jul 19
You never know, it's a good thing you plucked him out..Young children can drown with very little water in their lungs, or even without it, as in a dry drowning.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (208751)
• United States
29 Jul 19
@TheHorse w hen there is no water in the lungs but they are irritated and the child can't breathe properly,and they pass away sometimes hours later.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (208751)
• United States
29 Jul 19
Sign inRewards663,000 resultsAny time Dry Drowning: Know the Signsparents.comThe symptoms of dry drowning must not be ignored and neglected. They do occur right after the accident and they typically include: chronic coughing, the abruptness of breath, ches
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85923)
• Valdosta, Georgia
22 Jul 19
So glad he was okay, really glad for your quick action and the dad's quick thinking about his reaction. 
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
23 Jul 19
i'm glad the lil fella didn't hit his head, that'd been awful. yup, get right back'n the saddle if'n y'ave no serious 'njury. particularly with young'uns. otherwise fear tends to sink'n. yup, he said the correct thingy.
've ya e'er noticed that when somebody'd be'n trouble, we seem to've super-human powers? so glad ya were able to get the lil fella out quickly.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
29 Jul 19
@TheHorse that i dunno, but hope such's ne'er tested. i know i've cleared 6' fences tryin' to save someone from danger. hopin' that ability aint put to the test now's that 'twas long 'go.
@chrissbergstrom (10767)
• Banks, Oregon
22 Jul 19
So good of you to keep such a eagle eye on him, i have done the same while at the pool he sounds like he has a very good dad whom was just a bit behind you on getting there some kids are not as lucky..
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238275)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 19
@chrissbergstrom I'm going to head to the pool soon. Maybe they'll be there.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135582)
• Marion, Ohio
22 Jul 19
Glad you were right there. Also glad his dad got him back in.
1 person likes this
@DesirousDreamer (34776)
• Peoria, Arizona
22 Jul 19
That is so scary. It is good that both of you were around. Anything can happen when there is a pool involved and more adults need to be on alert in case anything like that does happen.
1 person likes this
