Jul 2, 2009 5:11 pm US/Pacific
Teen Saves Toddler From Drowning, Didn't Know CPR
STOCKTON (CBS13) ―
A local 14-year-old saved a four-year-old from drowning at a pool party. CBS13 went to Stockton to find out how he jumped into action without even knowing CPR.
On Tuesday night, a 21st birthday party was just getting started and kids and adults were in the pool, when two party-goers noticed a toddler motionless at the bottom of the pool.
"He was laying down right here, this is about maybe six feet," explains a party-goer.
Playing in his aunt's pool in Stockton, Pedro Vargas says his nine-year-old friend Alexes was the first to see the toddler.
"And I look, I seen this kid crawled up in kind of like ball face down and so I swim under, brought him out toward this way," says Pedro.
But, Alexes mother was nearby. "I immediately grabbed my cell phone and dialed 911," she told CBS13.
While Alexes mother made the call, the 7th grader pulled the four-year-old out of the water.
"Started pushing on his chest, so that didn't work so I started doing mouth to mouth; two or three times. And his eyes just opened," Pedro explains.
Minutes later, emergency responders arrived on the scene.
"They were amazed that a 14-year-old was about to do all of that," says Alexes' mother.
Knowing what to do, from seeing a sign at a community pool, Pedro was able to save the toddler's life.
"I read it and I remembered it," he tells CBS13.
But, Pedro's aunt says she can't say the same about the adults in the water.
"He had floatee's on. Somehow he took them off, but still there was no excuse for the adults in that pool not to keep an eye on those kids," she says.
Amazingly, that four-year-old spent just one night at a local hospital and is said to be recovering at home.
CBS13 did try to get in touch with the toddler's family, but they didn't want to go on camera, but say they are grateful for the teen's help.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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