A very sad story.

[Mace Canute]

I just thought that people should hear about this little boy's selfless act of heroism.

From Texas Boy, 4, Dies After Saving Girl, 3, From Drowning - ABC News

A 4-year-old Texas boy who saved a 3-year-old from drowning in a pool earlier this week is dead after he was taken off life support, his parents said.

Xander Vento of north Fort Worth had been hospitalized at Cook Children's Medical Center since he was found at the bottom of a swimming pool Monday, The Associated Press reported. The boy had helped the 3-year old girl who had been struggling to stay above water while in the pool's deep end, Medstar ambulance spokesman Matt Zavadsky said witnesses reported.

After helping the girl, Xander became exhausted and slipped below the water's surface, according to the AP.

Cris and Misty Vento, the boy's parents, said in a statement Thursday that they had come to the decision to take their boy off life support.

The Ventos said they would donate their son's organs.

"We have made the extremely difficult decision to remove our precious son Xander from life support," the parents said in a statement. "We in some way hope our son's life serves as an inspiration. He was the angel in the pool who sacrificed himself to save another."

"And now he continues to give as an organ donor. We were blessed to have such a kind and caring boy as Xander, who set an example for all of us and even now he will be saving lives by giving of himself."

 

[Cat_Driver]

...and the parent were where exactly?
I rescued my daughter twice from drowning, once when I didn't listen when my Brother wanted to take my daughter swimming with his kid and as we sat there he was yaking to his wife while my eyes were glued on my 4 year old daughter. She slipped off the edge and went to the bottom I was in the water before my brother even noticed.

Next time was a kids birthday party and I was ASSURED the THREE life guards paid for by the Mom would keep everyone safe. Again something was talking to me so I stayed and sat on the side of the pool dressed in long pants and shirt - not pool wear.

My daughter swam to the deep end and got tired, and thought she could "just stand up" .....she looked at my eyes as she went down. I jumped in the deep end clothes, cell phone, wallet, glasses and all to pull her off the bottom.

Right under the nose of the THREE life guards.

Why parents leave their kids alone near water for even a second id beyond me.

Great kid for saving the 3 yo, lousy parents.

 

[jomar215]

Cat, I applaud your diligence.

 

[creekbend]

So sad. Thanks for posting.

 

[Western]

Yes, very sad. Has of course been on our local news, cant recall where they said the parents where, if they where there or not. Things can happen in an instant, the young boy had more courage than some guys twice his age.

 

[forgeblast]

Very sad. My little one is 3 and last year (right after she turned 3) she took swimming lessons. Part of the lesson was how to save a person. They had them throw a gallon jug with rope, and then pull them in. But they also had them go and tell someone. Very sad story, brave little boy but what an outcome.

 

[trihounds]

Very sad story and most don't realize it can literally happen in seconds. And there is often no sound.

Not sure where the parents or guardian were, either. Our pool was built when our youngest was 2 and the key to safety is hyper vigilance and parenting without distractions.

 

[sodamo]

How very sad. Reading this as my 6yo granddaughter is currently at her swim lesson.

We love our pool, but it is a MAJOR concern.
From the time we built it, we told our son to get our granddaughter into swim lessons when she was about 2. Didn't really meet with the mother's priorities, saw dance lessons as better use of time. As a consequence, they were never allowed to stay at the main house as pool is 25 ft from bedroom door. Last fall, when they visited, we put her (age 5) into private lessons and when her swim teacher said it was ok they were allowed to move into a main bedroom. Naturally, she returned home and the only water she saw was a bathtub until she came to visit the end of Jun. she takes lessons 2x week and does fantastic, but doesn't go near the pool without grandma or grandpa physically present.

Also have a firm rule that No One under 18 is allowed in the pool without direct supervision of their parent. Probably doesn't make me real popular with some of the neighbors, but as I explain, you wouldn't want an accident to happen to someone else's kid you were watching.

So tragic. I applaud vigilant parenting.

David Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

 

[yelbike]

How very sad. Reading this as my 6yo granddaughter is currently at her swim lesson.

We love our pool, but it is a MAJOR concern.
From the time we built it, we told our son to get our granddaughter into swim lessons when she was about 2. Didn't really meet with the mother's priorities, saw dance lessons as better use of time. As a consequence, they were never allowed to stay at the main house as pool is 25 ft from bedroom door. Last fall, when they visited, we put her (age 5) into private lessons and when her swim teacher said it was ok they were allowed to move into a main bedroom. Naturally, she returned home and the only water she saw was a bathtub until she came to visit the end of Jun. she takes lessons 2x week and does fantastic, but doesn't go near the pool without grandma or grandpa physically present.

Also have a firm rule that No One under 18 is allowed in the pool without direct supervision of their parent. Probably doesn't make me real popular with some of the neighbors, but as I explain, you wouldn't want an accident to happen to someone else's kid you were watching.

So tragic. I applaud vigilant parenting.

David Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

This makes me think, school is just around the corner. They decided to make music a requirement inmy son's elementary school this year. We have to pay out of pocket nearly $200 per year in instrument rentals. Not so bad I guess, but I have four little ones so some day sooner then later I'll be paying $800 per year for music. I want to speak with school principal, why don't they make swimming lessons mandatory in schools isn't it more of an essential life skill??

BTW such a sad story.

My oldest brother pulled my cousin from drowning when they were only 6 years old. It happens so fast. Thats why we have a zero tolerance for pushing off the dock policy at the cottage. Every single person is told when they get off the boat.

 

[DarkBlack]

I just thought that people should hear about this little boy's selfless act of heroism.

From Texas Boy, 4, Dies After Saving Girl, 3, From Drowning - ABC News

Thanks, That's a great story of positive heroism. I mean really, really that.
It's somewhat depressing to see the usual negative comments focusing on what went wrong and who to blame. Is everyone just negative, and fear,like the mass media?
How about touting something great that some young kid did and sacrificed himself for others.
How about filling the internet with what a hero he was, instead of how bad the parenrts were.
Good greif