8-Year-Old Hero Pulls Another Boy From Pool
July 28, 2012— -- An 8-year-old boy is being called a hero after rescuing another boy who was drowning in a California hotel pool.
Cooper Davis, who lives in Johns Creek, Ga., was vacationing with his family in Garden Grove, Calif. on July 2 when he saved the other boy's life. He was swimming laps when he saw a boy at the bottom of the pool.
"I thought [the boy] was playing so I took a breath and another kid said, 'Help! Help! A kid's underwater!" Cooper told ABC News.
Cooper explains that after he heard the cries for help, he immediately dove underwater and rescued the drowning boy.
According to his father Jeff Davis, Cooper enjoys recreational swimming and has participated in his neighborhood's summer swim team for the past two years.
"I heard someone yell, 'Help! Someone's drowning in the pool!' I looked up because I figured it could have been my kid and I ran to the pool," said Jeff Davis,"…[but] it wasn't my son that was in trouble. When I got over there the boy was face up at the edge…[he] was limp and his eyes were shut. I just pulled him out and yelled, 'Help! Someone call 911! This boy can't breathe!'"
Davis immediately began CPR, but he was a little unsure of what to do. He then felt a faint pulse. After performing a few compressions and breaths, he was joined by an unidentified Good Samaritan.
"We saw a little drizzle of water come out of his mouth and his eyes were still shut and it seemed like he was trying to breathe so we turned him on his side," Davis told ABC News.
According to Davis, the paramedics arrived shortly after, and the boy was able to whimper his name.
"Whatever efforts that everyone did… saved this boy's life," said Mike Feher, an officer of the Garden Grove Police Resort Team.
A police officer at the scene awarded Cooper with a special coin on behalf of the Garden Grove Chief of Police. The coin is given to those who have distinguished themselves in the community.
Cooper was also invited to a luncheon for recipients of the award, but since he wouldn't be able to attend, Feher said he forwarded the information to Cooper's hometown mayor. He hopes the town will formally recognize Cooper.
Despite the recognition he's receiving, Cooper remains humble. When asked if he considers himself a hero, he responded, "Well, sort of. I'm just glad that the kid's OK."
