When swimming for an hour to rescue his family after they became stuck in a
river, a seven-year-old kid is being hailed as a hero.
According to unbelievable accounts, Chase Poust went out on Friday, May 28,
at the start of Memorial Day weekend, with his father, Steven, and sister,
Abigail, age 4.
In Jacksonville, Florida's St. Johns River, close to Mandarin Point, the
trio had docked their boat. Steven was supposed to go fishing for a bit
while his two kids played in the water nearby.
Although Steven had underestimated the strength of the current, it didn't
take long for seven-year-old Chase to see Abigail, who was wearing a life
jacket, had been swept away from the boat.
"My sister, who typically hangs out at the rear of the boat, let go because
the current was so strong. I released my hold on the boat in order to grasp
her, but as soon as I did, I became stuck, claimed Chase in an exclusive
interview with news outlet WJXT.
Despite not having a life jacket on, Chase let go of the boat in an effort
to save his sister. Steven also dove into the water to try to save his
daughter, but she kept slipping away.
According to Steven, "I told them I loved him because I wasn't sure what
was going to happen," he told News4Jax. I made an effort to stay with both
of them. I exhausted myself. She veered off of me.
Despite being afraid, Chase was able to swim to shore. To avoid getting too
tired to maintain his head above water, he alternated between doggie
paddling and floating on his back.
The small youngster struggled against the tide for an hour in total before
reaching dry land. He then ran for assistance.
Steven said: "I waved my arms and yelled for assistance at the top of my
lungs, and sure enough, someone heard us. Little Man also made it to the
beach and received assistance, which is what gave us life.
After drifting a mile from their boat, Steven and Abigail were rescued an
hour later with the assistance of the Sheriff's Office and Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission.
At a press conference, Eric Prosswimmer, a spokesperson for the
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, said: "We had every resource we
possibly could come swiftly and we're glad to announce all three have been
recovered, and all three are doing well. We couldn't have wished for a
better result.
In Florida, a brave 7-year-old recounts hour-long swim to shore after boating mishap. pic.twitter.com/6w57oFJjAD
— KSL NewsRadio (@kslnewsradio) May 30, 2021
What a narrow escape! It's a miracle that tiny Chase could swim and seek
the treatment he so sorely needed.
Please always use the utmost caution when out on the water with kids,
parents. As seen below, things may and frequently do change in the span of a
moment.
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