Three bystanders and a Herculaneum Police officer saved an 8-year-old girl from drowning on July 10, Chief Sharia Kyle reported.
The incident occurred about 3:30 p.m. at the Providence subdivision community pool on Durham Drive.
“There was a call of a drowning,” Kyle said. “Officers arrived at the scene, where people started CPR on (the girl). The officer first on the scene noticed the bystanders attempting to clear the child’s airway. He took over and put the child in a recovery position. That’s where they’re put on their side to help vacate the airway.
“After he helped her in that position, she began to breathe. At that point, EMS (from Joachim-Plattin Ambulance) arrived and took over.”
Kyle said JPAD transported the child to an area hospital where she stayed over night and was released the next day.
“She’s fine,” she said. “She went home from the hospital the next day.”
Kyle said the police officer, Adam Wright, was the right person for the life-saving task.
“A lot of officers aren’t necessary trained at drowning recovery situations,” she said. “But, Officer Wright is a trained scuba diver.”
She also commended the bystanders for their quick actions.
“Also, three juvenile females helped pull (the victim) out of the pool,” she said.
She said Wright and the bystanders will be acknowledged for their heroics at a future date.