Boy on Life Support after saving girl - VGF

Sim Kid · 06-12-2004, 10:56 PM

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Midwest/0....ap/index.html

Quote:

CHICAGO RIDGE, Illinois (AP) -- Six-year-old Donnie Hauser-Richerme knew he couldn't swim, but he also knew the little girl in the murky, debris-filled swimming pool was in trouble.

Donnie jumped in and helped save 5-year-old Karah Moran's life before becoming stuck in five feet of blackened rain water and muck at the bottom of the deep end.

Paramedics eventually rescued him, but he was in critical condition and on life support Thursday.

Karah called Donnie "my hero."

"I can't say enough about this little guy," said Chicago Ridge Police Chief Tim Baldermann. "It's amazing that this little kid, old enough to understand it's a dangerous situation, was so brave. Without thinking about himself he instinctively jumped in to help his friend."

The rescue happened Monday as Karah, Donnie, and his 4-year-old brother explored the apartment complex where their families live. Karah, who was visiting her grandmother at the complex, knew the location of an empty swimming pool on the grounds.

"She wanted to show the pool," said Karah's aunt, Bernadette Choate. "She didn't expect the gate to be unlocked."

A maintenance worker had been sent out to the pool that day to do some work, Baldermann said. Faced with a locked gate and no key, the worker cut the lock to get in. He wrapped a chain around the gate and left, but the children were able to remove the chain and get inside.

Karah either climbed or fell into the pool's shallow end, where there wasn't any water. But the bottom was slick with dead leaves and algae, causing her to slide down into the muck-covered deep end.

Donnie jumped into the shallow end and reached toward his friend to try to pull her to safety. But Karah weighs about 10 pounds more than Donnie, and between the weight and the slick surface, the boy slipped and both ended up in the water.

Karah's mother, Melany Moran, said her daughter told her that as the two were struggling in the water, Donnie helped her reach the ladder.

As somebody called 911, adults hurried to the pool area, but the water was so filthy, so filled with debris, that they couldn't see Donnie. Another maintenance man, Andre Mitchell, said he poked the water with a long aluminum pole used to clean pools but turned up nothing.

By the time the paramedics found Donnie, he had been under water anywhere from five to 20 minutes, Baldermann said.

He said prosecutors decided not to file charges against the owner of the complex after learning the maintenance man had cut the lock.

Melany Moran said she is worried about her daughter and plans on getting her into counseling "when this all dies down."

"Last night she had a nightmare," she said. "She was screaming, 'Help me, help me."

He IS a hero. I'd do the same if I were in his shoes. I hope he lives.

Dark Magus · 06-12-2004, 10:58 PM

The pool was open? Aren't people, you know, supposed to keep it sanitary?

Anyways, brave kid. I commend him.

Gamer Chris · 06-12-2004, 11:22 PM

Heh, I definetly give the boy credit for what he did. It would suck if he were to die, though.

---------------------------------

~Gamer Chris

The Doctor · 06-13-2004, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dee Emm:
brave kid. I commend him.

KirbyKing · 06-13-2004, 09:03 AM

Brave or stupid? Ah well, it doesn't matter. If the boy survives it makes a neat story.

Except for this counseling? What for?

Sim Kid · 06-13-2004, 03:44 PM

^Trauma.

**Wyborn** · 06-13-2004, 04:12 PM

Atta boy. That kid's got the makings to be a hell of a guy

***ZeldaGirl*** · 06-13-2004, 06:37 PM

^ Yup.

SuperMarioBro2 · 06-13-2004, 07:37 PM

Indiana Jones he ain't, but he comes damn close.

Curly Brace · 06-13-2004, 09:53 PM

...Wow. How a little boy sacrificed his life for her...

I hope he lives. What a brave child.

ocarinagirl · 06-13-2004, 10:01 PM

Go kid!! [img]smile.gif[/img]

**L007 is Undecided** · 06-13-2004, 10:29 PM

If he lives, he's going to have a girlfriend very soon

Ditto · 06-14-2004, 01:59 PM

Hopefully a medal or decoration too. [img]smile.gif[/img]

***CaptHayfever*** · 06-16-2004, 01:27 PM

He died. I saw it on Netscape news last night; can't find the link now.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

Sim Kid · 06-16-2004, 02:56 PM

^He died?!

Ike · 06-16-2004, 03:17 PM

^^Really? That sucks.

06-12-2004, 10:58 PM	#2
Dark Magus Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Gender: Posts: 6,260 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Points: 1,992.00 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 2,492.00 Donate	The pool was open? Aren't people, you know, supposed to keep it sanitary? Anyways, brave kid. I commend him.

06-12-2004, 11:22 PM	#3
Gamer Chris Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Long Island, New York. Posts: 4,534 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Points: 1,696.00 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 2,196.00 Donate	Heh, I definetly give the boy credit for what he did. It would suck if he were to die, though. --------------------------------- ~Gamer Chris

06-13-2004, 09:03 AM	#5
KirbyKing Veteran Member Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 37,091 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Points: 10,534.50 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 11,034.50 Donate	Brave or stupid? Ah well, it doesn't matter. If the boy survives it makes a neat story. Except for this counseling? What for?

06-13-2004, 03:44 PM	#6
Sim Kid Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: The state of Denial Gender: Posts: 6,869 Thanks: 9 Thanked 54 Times in 29 Posts Points: 32,749.04 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 33,249.04 Donate	^Trauma.

06-13-2004, 04:12 PM	#7
Wyborn Zelda Mod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: All over the place Gender: Posts: 12,325 Thanks: 86 Thanked 437 Times in 269 Posts Points: 14,750.55 Bank: 71,521.32 Total Points: 86,271.87 Donate	Atta boy. That kid's got the makings to be a hell of a guy

06-13-2004, 06:37 PM	#8
*ZeldaGirl* Venting SuperMod Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Why do YOU want to know...? Gender: Posts: 11,705 Thanks: 495 Thanked 722 Times in 488 Posts Points: 22,488.27 Bank: 306,009.81 Total Points: 328,498.08 Donate	^ Yup.

06-13-2004, 07:37 PM	#9
SuperMarioBro2 Banned Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 652 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Points: 10,077.50 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 10,577.50 Donate	Indiana Jones he ain't, but he comes damn close.

06-13-2004, 09:53 PM	#10
Curly Brace THE ALL AROUND YUMMIEST. Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Maryland Gender: Posts: 5,772 Thanks: 127 Thanked 116 Times in 82 Posts Points: 15,776.93 Bank: 37,251.94 Total Points: 53,028.88 Donate	...Wow. How a little boy sacrificed his life for her... I hope he lives. What a brave child.

06-13-2004, 10:01 PM	#11
ocarinagirl Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Ehhh? What? Where am I?! Gender: Posts: 3,010 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Points: 7,914.83 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 8,414.83 Donate	Go kid!! [img]smile.gif[/img]

06-13-2004, 10:29 PM	#12
L007 is Undecided Axe Shreddin' Mod Join Date: May 2001 Location: Farmerland. Gender: Posts: 7,341 Thanks: 90 Thanked 292 Times in 172 Posts Points: 2,103.54 Bank: 15,959.16 Total Points: 18,062.70 Donate	If he lives, he's going to have a girlfriend very soon

06-14-2004, 01:59 PM	#13
Ditto Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Not in SSB:M Posts: 354 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Points: 800.00 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 1,300.00 Donate	Hopefully a medal or decoration too. [img]smile.gif[/img]

06-16-2004, 01:27 PM	#14
*CaptHayfever* Smash Supermod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 19,265 Thanks: 160 Thanked 729 Times in 471 Posts Points: 105,240.68 Bank: 923.79 Total Points: 106,164.48 Donate	He died. I saw it on Netscape news last night; can't find the link now. And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

06-16-2004, 02:56 PM	#15
Sim Kid Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: The state of Denial Gender: Posts: 6,869 Thanks: 9 Thanked 54 Times in 29 Posts Points: 32,749.04 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 33,249.04 Donate	^He died?!

06-16-2004, 03:17 PM	#16
Ike Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: I don't know. Where do I live? Gender: Posts: 5,630 Thanks: 7 Thanked 153 Times in 109 Posts Points: 6,149.06 Bank: 178,130.93 Total Points: 184,279.99 Donate	^^Really? That sucks.