Romeo and Magness are like every other little boy, curious adventure seekers. But a hole in a fence, an abandoned swimming pool, and croaking reptiles lead them straight into harm’s way.
Grandfather, Gene Eck said, “I told them not to go near there. Of course I’ve said that before. You know how that is. They’re curious.”
Three-year old Magness had been told time and again to stay away from the yard next door, and never get near the swimming pool. But a family of frogs was just too enticing.
When he reached into the Logan County pool to grab one, he fell in, head first.
His big brother, only six himself, never panicked.
Romeo told us, “I do know how to paddle swim.”
Romeo did the right thing by not jumping in. Instead, he grabbed his floundering sibling by the arm, and pulled him to safety.
Mr. Eck said, “I’m just thankful he was able to pull him out of there.”
It was a happy ending to this near drowning, but EMSA medics predict many more emergency calls as summer begins.
Medic, John Graham said, “Swimming pools, bodies of water are an attractive nuisance. They want to see what it is and they’ll do amazing things to get to those areas. So really, the #1 thing is paying attention and always be there.”
Gene Eck has taken every precaution to ensure his curious grandkids never sneak into the neighbor’s backyard. He’s put up a barrier over the hole in the fence, and has had another talk with the boys about the dangers next door. He also insists the inquisitive kids will never be unsupervised again.