A 10-year-old boy from Oklahoma is receiving much praise as a “child hero” for saving his mother from drowning when she had a seizure and convulsion in his backyard swimming pool.
Security cameras in the backyard of an Oklahoma apartment captured a young boy named Gavin Keeney jumping straight into the lake when he saw his mother struggling in the water on August 5.
“I heard thrashing and splashing,” Gavin Keeney said in an interview. “I heard screaming like someone was about to drown. So I looked back and saw you crouching in the water. I jumped into the lake and dragged you towards the steps.”
It is known that Gavin’s mother, Lori Keeney, suffers from epilepsy and has seizures almost every day. Gavin always came to her aid. But this was the first time she was able to watch her son worry about her when he was sick.
“I was really surprised when I witnessed that scene. Normally, I can’t see what my son does to me when he has a seizure. This is the first time I’ve seen it thanks to the security camera…so proud of him…and, heartbroken too.”
In the recorded video, when Lori was convulsing and gradually sinking into the water, Gavin quickly dived into the lake and pulled his mother to the shore, before the boy’s grandfather could run to bring both mother and daughter up.
Because of her health condition, Lori said she never swims alone. That day, both she and Gavin went down to the lake to play. After the boy stepped forward, she began to convulse. “When people told me, I learned that Gavin did not panic or ask for help, but immediately jumped into the lake and pulled me towards the stairs. More than a minute later, when my father, who lives next door, heard the dog barking, he rushed over to help and keep my head from drowning in the water.” Lori shared.
“When he arrived, Gavin stepped back and once again took on the appearance of a child. My father then hugged them both. It was really the scariest moment of my life.” She added.
The Kingston Police Department later presented Gavin with an award to honor the boy’s bravery. While many others cannot help but admire Gavin when he was only 10 years old, he was able to save his mother from drowning safely.
Lori also said she couldn’t help being grateful for her son: “He is definitely my hero. I feel like he’s like a guardian angel in my life.”
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