Posted on 06/10/2004 4:44:07 PM PDT by Melpomene
CHICAGO RIDGE, Ill. -- Six-year-old Donnie Hauser-Richerme knew he couldn't swim, but he also knew the little girl in the murky, debris-filled swimming pool was in trouble.
Donnie jumped in and helped save 5-year-old Karah Moran's life before becoming stuck in five feet of blackened rain water and muck at the bottom of the deep end. Paramedics eventually rescued him, but he was in critical condition and on life support Thursday.
Karah called Donnie "my hero."
"I can't say enough about this little guy," said Chicago Ridge Police Chief Tim Baldermann. "It's amazing that this little kid, old enough to understand it's a dangerous situation, was so brave. Without thinking about himself he instinctively jumped in to help his friend."
The rescue happened Monday as Karah, Donnie, and his 4-year-old brother explored the apartment complex where their families live. Karah, who was visiting her grandmother at the complex, knew the location of an empty swimming pool on the grounds.
"She wanted to show the pool," said Karah's aunt, Bernadette Choate. "She didn't expect the gate to be unlocked."
A maintenance worker had been sent out to the pool that day to do some work, Baldermann said. Faced with a locked gate and no key, the worker cut the lock to get in. He wrapped a chain around the gate and left, but the children were able to remove the chain and get inside.
Karah either climbed or fell into the pool's shallow end, where there wasn't any water. But the bottom was slick with dead leaves and algae, causing her to slide down into the muck-covered deep end.
Donnie jumped into the shallow end and reached toward his friend to try to pull her to safety. But Karah weighs about 10 pounds more than Donnie, and between the weight and the slick surface, the boy slipped and both ended up in the water.
Karah's mother, Melany Moran, said her daughter told her that as the two were struggling in the water, Donnie helped her reach the ladder.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
Ya know, I don't own a pool and never have, but I would like to think that if I did, and the conditions of the water became so bad -- an obvious indication of non-use -- I would just drain the thing. Pools scream "LIABILITY LAWSUIT;" why encourage it?
If any adult was actually standing by the pool and NOT JUMPING IN AND THRASHING AROUND TO FIND THAT BOY, but instead waited, watched, looked, speculated, etc., then they should be shunned for the rest of their days.
Prayers for this brave little boy - the fact that he's on life support doesn't bode well for him, though. We need to pray for a miracle.
Something's not right here. Those adults ought to have been right there in the middle of the muck--I know I would have been.
Heroes come in all sizes. He is a big man who did a big job. He needs our prayers.
This is what boys are taught in all the movies. The guy always gives his life to save the woman. Too bad women don't seem to have the same sentiment about men, I think men are worth it.
bump
Of course there should have been an adult with a 4, 5, and 6 year old --- kind of young to just be wandering around on their own. Poor kids --- but negligent adults.
Praise God.
He displayed the greatest form of love. Your love Lord.
Jesus, on behalf of this young Man, I ask you for your grace.
I lift this brave little boy up to the Lord. Our Father who made him is with him now - for healing, my Father, I cry out to you. May this child teach others the meaning of courage...
In Jesus Name...
Lord, save this little fighter!
Prayers, or "combined, directed thoughts for strength", whatever we wish to call it - let's see a ping for every positive healing thought we can send for this child. I call it prayer, but a good thought is a prayer.
PING
EXCUSE ME! The little kid was drowning in 5' of dirty water. Weren't any of those adults > 5' tall? Or was it just that they didn't want to get their clothes dirty?
That little boy is far superior to the adults who were present that day.
Our prayers for this heroic child who knew at six years old the meaning of being a man.
It's my experience that the deep end of apartment swimming pools is about 7 feet. They might have been worried about getting dirty.
Prayers up for this heroic young man!
Prayers up for a brave little boy!
Mega-ping prayers for a brave little boy!
I dunno....I've known a couple who weren't worth it. In fact, I would have held them under to make sure they were full of water. LOL
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.