Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Karen Scullin ReportingTremendous gratitude, high fives and a pat on the back from one family to a ten-year old girl who saved the life of a little boy. Erica Halverson was swimming with friends when she saw a four-year old boy lying at the bottom of the pool.
It happened in just a few seconds, but Erica Halverson had a courageous reaction when she dove down to save a little friend. Three days later it's a little easier to talk about, but Friday was terrifying.
Four-year old Hadley Fritz was taken by medical helicopter to the hospital after he almost drowned.
Erica Halverson: “Scary, huh? Yes it was really scary . . . I just went back up for a breath, went back down, picked him up and my mom was playing with little kids in the shallow end and I brought him over to my mom."
Hadley was unconscious; an adult gave him CPR. But with water in his lungs, he was treated at Primary Children's Hospital; and although there were some scary moments following the accident, Hadley is okay.
Erica Halverson: “I’m really glad I could help save him.”
Jennifer Fritz/Hadley's Mother: “I’m so grateful that she did. And she saved him and I think she's a true hero . . . He’s back to himself, his crazy little self.”
Primary Children's Hospital says they get about twenty drownings or near drownings a year. Most of them occur in the spring and summer months.
