Louisville teen saves child from drowning www.privateofficer.com

LOUISVILLE, KY April 10 2011- A 14-year-old boy who saved the life of a child that almost drowned April 7 in the pool of a southern Indiana hotel said he just did what was right. Garrick Huffman of Louisville still can’t grasp what happened when a family getaway at the Horseshoe Casino Hotel in Harrison County turned into a life or death situation.

“It just happened,” said Garrick, “I didn’t think about it or anything.”

Garrick says he and his family were swimming at the hotel pool with about 30 other people at a pool party. As he walked near the pool, Garrick said something caught his eye among the people swimming.

“We happened to see the boy’s shorts when were walking and somebody said he was under,” said Garrick.

Without thinking, Garrick says he jumped into the water.

“Then I pulled him up as quick as I could and brought him on the side and yelled for help,” said Garrick. “It was instinctive. I just saw him and I picked him straight up.”

The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office says 20 to 40 minutes passed before someone saw the boy in about four feet of water. A group of adults, one of whom was a nurse, began CPR on the boy.

Robbin Huffman, of Louisville, is Garrick’s mother.

“This is something that’s going to take a while for our family to grasp,” said Robbin Huffman, Garrick’s mother. “But more than anything, I just want the young man, his name is Josiah, to be okay.”

Robbin Huffman said her son saved the young boy’s life, although the title of “hero” is something the 14-year-old humbly declines.

“I wouldn’t call myself a hero, because, I did what was right,” said Garrick.

The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office said adults were at the pool and that the hotel has a clearly visible sign warning people of the risks of swimming in the pool. About an hour before the incident, a hotel security officer did a head count in the pool and patio area.

According to a sheriff’s office spokesperson, the 7-year-old remained at Kosair Children’s Hospital Friday listed in critical, but stable condition.

As of Friday evening, Horseshoe Casino had not returned our calls or messages.

Source:WAVE

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