WINTER HAVEN (FOX 13) - A 9-year-old boy is recovering at a Tampa hospital after he was saved from drowning by another young boy at the pool.
It happened Friday night at the Winter Haven Inn and Suites. Police say Thomas Ingram, Jr. was in the pool with 10-year-old Larry Wagner. Larry was doing laps while Thomas stayed in the shallow end, because he couldn't swim.
Larry told police that after he had done a few laps, he saw Thomas at the bottom of the pool, not moving, and scooped him up, then surfaced and called for help. A family friend at the pool heard them and rushed over to help, and property security member Jose Velez also rushed over and started CPR on Thomas until paramedics arrived. Emergency responders took over CPR when they got to the scene, and were able to get a pulse back before taking Thomas to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa.
"I am certain that the quick thinking of Wagner saved this boy's life," said Winter Haven Police Chief Charlie Bird. "Without his fast response and perseverance in the time of emergency, this could have certainly had a different outcome."
The boy is listed in stable condition.