The quick actions of a deaf Deaflym- pics swimmer saved three lives at the Joan Harrison Complex yesterday.
Michael Swartz, who had just completed a gruelling training session with coach Joe Hillstrom, said that while he was drying himself Hillstrom alerted him to the drama unfolding behind him.
Turning around, Swartz said he saw a small child flailing in the deep side of the 5m deep pool. Without thinking, he jumped into the pool and swam across to where he had seen the child.
When he got there, however, he was met with the sinking body of a man.
“As I was pulling him to safety, I saw the gathered crowd pointing down and I realised someone else was in the water,” Swartz said.
“I immediately dived down and when I got to the bottom I was surprised to see two people. It was a man with his arms wrapped around a little boy.
“He was moving his legs frantically trying to swim to the surface but was struggling.”
Swartz grabbed the man by his shirt, pulling him up to safety.
The child was saved next, but showed no signs of breathing once he hit the surface.
Skilled in level 3 CPR, Swartz managed to resuscitate the six-year-old.
“I pressed lightly on his chest and I could feel gurgling meaning there was water in his chest.
“With children you’re supposed to use one hand to resuscitate but I knew time was of the essence so I used two hands. He spat up some water but not all of it,” he said.
Swartz said he pressed his hands to the child’s chest once again, bringing up even more water.
As he lay the child on his side, in the recovery position, the little boy spat out the last of the water and let out a cry.
The child was a pupil from one of five Queenstown schools on an excursion to the swimming complex.
Joan Harrison employees said they could not provide the information.
No response to questions sent to BCM spokesman Keith Ngesi was received at the time of writing. — zisandan@dispatch.co.za
Deaf swimmer saves three from drowning
Michael Swartz, who had just completed a gruelling training session with coach Joe Hillstrom, said that while he was drying himself Hillstrom alerted him to the drama unfolding behind him.
Turning around, Swartz said he saw a small child flailing in the deep side of the 5m deep pool. Without thinking, he jumped into the pool and swam across to where he had seen the child.
When he got there, however, he was met with the sinking body of a man.
“As I was pulling him to safety, I saw the gathered crowd pointing down and I realised someone else was in the water,” Swartz said.
“I immediately dived down and when I got to the bottom I was surprised to see two people. It was a man with his arms wrapped around a little boy.
“He was moving his legs frantically trying to swim to the surface but was struggling.”
Swartz grabbed the man by his shirt, pulling him up to safety.
The child was saved next, but showed no signs of breathing once he hit the surface.
Skilled in level 3 CPR, Swartz managed to resuscitate the six-year-old.
“I pressed lightly on his chest and I could feel gurgling meaning there was water in his chest.
“With children you’re supposed to use one hand to resuscitate but I knew time was of the essence so I used two hands. He spat up some water but not all of it,” he said.
Swartz said he pressed his hands to the child’s chest once again, bringing up even more water.
As he lay the child on his side, in the recovery position, the little boy spat out the last of the water and let out a cry.
The child was a pupil from one of five Queenstown schools on an excursion to the swimming complex.
Joan Harrison employees said they could not provide the information.
No response to questions sent to BCM spokesman Keith Ngesi was received at the time of writing. — zisandan@dispatch.co.za
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