A seven-year-old boy is being celebrated as a hero after he swam for an hour to get help for his family when they were stranded in a river.
Chase Poust was out with his father, Steven, and his four-year-old sister, Abigail, on Friday, May 28, at the start of Memorial Day weekend. They had taken a boat to the St. Johns River near Mandarin Point in Jacksonville, Florida, and anchored it, with Steven planning to fish while his children swam nearby.
However, the current was stronger than anticipated, and soon Chase noticed that Abigail, who was wearing a life jacket, had been swept away from the boat. Chase, who wasn’t wearing a life jacket, let go of the boat to help his sister but found himself in trouble as well.
Steven jumped into the water to save his daughter but struggled against the current, eventually becoming exhausted. “I told them I loved them because I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. I tried to stay with both of them but wore myself out,” Steven told News4Jax.
Despite his fear, Chase managed to swim to shore, using a mix of doggie paddling and floating on his back to avoid exhaustion. After an hour of battling the current, he reached dry land and ran to find help.
Steven described the moment of rescue: “I screamed for help and waved my arms, and someone finally heard us. Little man also made it to shore and got help, which saved our lives.”
One hour later, Steven and Abigail were rescued by the Sheriff’s Office and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, having drifted a mile from their boat.
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department spokesperson Eric Prosswimmer commented at a news conference: “We had every resource we could have possibly had coming quickly and are relieved to say all three are safe and doing well. We couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.”
This close call highlights the importance of vigilance when on the water with children. Share this article to spread awareness about water safety and to commend Chase for his brave actions.
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