We should give the due recognition for his bravery.
A seven-year-old boy is being hailed as a small hero as he had been swimming for an hour to rescue his family when they became stranded in a river.
According to the reports, Chase Poust and his four-year old sister, Abigail have gone out with their father, Steven on Friday, May 28, at the beginning of Memorial Day weekend.
They had anchored their boat close to Mandarin Point, Florida’s St. Johns River in Jacksonville.
Then, Steven’s idea was to do a spot of fishing while his two kids played in the water nearby.
Chase Poust spent about an hour swimming to shore and was able to get to a nearby home to ask for help. https://t.co/7l3pHRATHo
— WISN 12 NEWS (@WISN12News) May 31, 2021
Unfortunately, the tide was stronger than Steven thought. Seven years old Chase saw Abigail, who was wearing a life jacket, pulling away from the boat in just a second.
“The tide was so strong. My sister usually hangs out at the back of the boat. So, I let go of the boat and grabbed her, and then, I was stuck,” Chase remarked in an exclusive interview with news channel WJXT.
Chase let go of the boat and tried to save his sister even though he hadn’t a life jacket. Steven also jumped into the water to rescue his daughter, but she kept drifting away.
Steven’s emotions for News4Jax was “I told them I loved them because I had no clue what was going to happen. I tried to get connected to both of them. I wore myself out, then she drifted away from me.”.
Chase was able to swim to the shore despite being terrified. He alternated between doggie paddling and floating on his back to keep his head above water.
The young boy reached the dry land after struggling against the tide for an hour. Then, he ran for assistance
Steven further said that he yelled for help at the top of his lungs and waved his arms for someone to notice them. The kid also made it to the shore and got help and that’s what saved our lives.”
Steven and Abigail were rescued an hour later after by assistance of the Sheriff’s Office and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
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
At a press conference, Eric Prosswimmer, a spokesperson for the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department noticed that “We had every resource we could possibly have. That is why we could come quickly and we’re happy to see all three have recovered, and all three are doing well. We couldn’t have wished for a better result”. It’s an amazing that tiny Chase could swim and seek the treatment he so sorely needed. This incident brings an good message to all parents to always be aware when out on the water with kids. Things may happen as never we expected. Share this article on your social media platforms to warn your most lovers about dangers and to honor Chase for his massive efforts.
