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Boy, officer save child who nearly drowned |
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Tuesday, 22 July 2008 |
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By Richard Toynton BLACKFOOT — The quick actions of a boy and a police officer most likely saved the life of a 5-year-old boy who nearly drowned in Jensen Grove Lake during the evening of July 19.
 Morning News - Richard Toynton
A sign posted at Jensen Grove Lake warns swimmers that they swim at their own risk. A 5-year-old boy from Pocatello nearly drowned before he was rescued by a 12-year-old Fort Hall boy and a Blackfoot police officer during the evening of July 19.
A 12-year-old Fort Hall boy noticed an unconscious child floating on the surface of the water before he immediately carried him out of the lake while shouting for help, police reports said.
Officer Paul Hardwicke from the Blackfoot Police Department was patrolling the area on a bicycle when he heard “That kid is not breathing” being shouted, BPD Capt. Kurt Asmus said.
Hardwicke called for an ambulance at about 5:45 p.m. before reviving the boy with CPR.
Fire department staff said the boy was calm and speaking with emergency responders while en route to Bingham Memorial Hospital.
The police and fire department have not released the names of the juveniles involved, but the 12-year-old’s identity might be released at a later date, Asmus said.
“The twelve-year-old should be commended,” he said. “The kid did all the right things. He pulled him out of the water and called for help immediately.
“It’s nice to know there are kids out there paying attention ... It’s nice to live in a community where kids are watching out for other people,” Asmus said.
The boy from Fort Hall didn’t know the 5-year-old Pocatello boy, and the 5-year-old’s mother told police that she turned her back to her child for what seemed like one second during the incident.
“Tragedies can happen just like that—it often doesn’t take more than a second,” Asmus said. “As for the officer, obviously we’re proud of him.”
Hardwicke is a school resource officer at Blackfoot High School who patrols Jensen Grove on a bicycle when high school students are released for the summer.
He was the only officer posted at the lake July 19, and Asmus said he may have some EMT experience. “He always carries a bigger first aid kit than everyone else—he adds more things to it.”
After Hardwicke requested an ambulance for the boy, he observed that the boy wasn’t breathing and had a very weak pulse, a police report said. Two rescue breaths were administered by Hardwicke, but the boy did not start breathing and no pulse was observed by the officer so he started CPR.
The child took a few breaths, moaned, and then he rolled over to vomit before he began to cry, Asmus said. This all happened before paramedics from the Blackfoot Fire Department arrived four minutes after they were dispatched to the location just west of the amphitheater.
Asmus said, “We’re not just there to enforce the laws. We’re there to help—to make it a safe environment for families to come to.”
Monday was Hardwicke’s day off and he was unable to be reached for comment.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 23 July 2008 )
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