POLK COUNTY, Fla. -- A 9-year-old boy was saved from drowning at a Winter Haven pool Friday evening after he was pulled up from the bottom of the pool by another child swimmer.
Winter Haven Police reported that Thomas Ingram, 9, who was not able to swim, was found at the bottom of the deep end by Larry Wagner, 10.
Wagner was swimming at the same time as Ingram at the Winter Haven Inn and Suites located at 1150 3rd Street Southwest around 8 p.m. The two boys were known to each other, and Wagner knew that Ingram, who was previously in the shallow area but now in the deep end, could not swim.
Wagner was able to bring Ingram to the surface while calling out "drowner, drowner" and alerting a nearby adult. Ingram family friend Charlie Camiel Jr. and another man were able to pull Ingram out of the water.
A security guard for the hotel, Jose Velez, immediately began performing CPR on Ingram as authorities were contacted by 911.
EMS arrived a short time later and continued resuscitating the child. The boy's pulse returned and he was taken by helicopter to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa.
Ingram is reported to be in stable condition and recovering.
WHPD Chief Charlie Bird remarked that Wagner's quick thinking saved Ingram's life:
"Without his fast response and perseverance in the time of emergency, this could have certainly had a different outcome," Bird said.
