Post by Throwback on Mar 14, 2013 9:58:07 GMT -5
www.theweathernetwork.com/news/storm_watch_stories3&stormfile=Human_chain_saves_drowning_boy_13_03_2013?ref=ccbox_weather_topstories
Video in link
Video in link
March 13, 2013 — A 12-year-old boy says he thought he was going to die before being saved from treacherous surf at a popular tourist spot in New Zealand.
Josh McQuoid had been playing in the water at the beach on Napier's Marine Parade, New Zealand, when a large wave caught him and dragged him under.
"The waves smashed me so much, there were five really big ones, they flipped me around quite a few times. I was underwater I think the longest for about twenty seconds," Josh recalls.
He was dragged 150 metres along the beach, fighting for air for eight long minutes.
"Like being in a washing machine you know. Just boom, boom, boom," says Josh's father Shane McQuoid.
Constable Paul Bailey dove right into the waves, but says he lost grip of Josh about three times.
"I was just panicking and frantic to get him back, and a few times under the waves I was thinking have I done the right thing charging in here, is it going to be two bodies they're looking for?"
To prevent the unfolding double tragedy, his colleague screamed for help.
"I could see other people up on the shore line, and I started yelling 'come help us, come help us, form a human chain,'" says Bryan Farquharson with Napier Police.
And that human chain pulled Josh and his rescuers to safety.
"I'd love to thank them so much for what they did, they saved my life, if it wasn't for them I'd be dead," says a very thankful Josh.
He was revived by members of the public and taken to Napier Hospital.
Officials say Josh is definitely one of the lucky ones as 11 people have drowned at beaches this summer.
Josh McQuoid had been playing in the water at the beach on Napier's Marine Parade, New Zealand, when a large wave caught him and dragged him under.
"The waves smashed me so much, there were five really big ones, they flipped me around quite a few times. I was underwater I think the longest for about twenty seconds," Josh recalls.
He was dragged 150 metres along the beach, fighting for air for eight long minutes.
"Like being in a washing machine you know. Just boom, boom, boom," says Josh's father Shane McQuoid.
Constable Paul Bailey dove right into the waves, but says he lost grip of Josh about three times.
"I was just panicking and frantic to get him back, and a few times under the waves I was thinking have I done the right thing charging in here, is it going to be two bodies they're looking for?"
To prevent the unfolding double tragedy, his colleague screamed for help.
"I could see other people up on the shore line, and I started yelling 'come help us, come help us, form a human chain,'" says Bryan Farquharson with Napier Police.
And that human chain pulled Josh and his rescuers to safety.
"I'd love to thank them so much for what they did, they saved my life, if it wasn't for them I'd be dead," says a very thankful Josh.
He was revived by members of the public and taken to Napier Hospital.
Officials say Josh is definitely one of the lucky ones as 11 people have drowned at beaches this summer.
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