A seven-year-old boy, Chase Poust, is being hailed as a hero after swimming for an hour to get help for his stranded family. On Memorial Day weekend, Chase, his father Steven, and his four-year-old sister Abigail were boating on the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida, when a strong current pulled Abigail away from the boat.<\/p>\n
Chase, who wasn\u2019t wearing a life jacket, let go of the boat to help his sister. Steven also jumped into the water but couldn\u2019t reach her. \u201cI told them I loved them because I wasn\u2019t sure what\u2019s going to happen,\u201d Steven said. Exhausted, he watched Abigail drift away.<\/p>\n
Despite his fear, Chase swam to shore, alternating between doggie paddle and floating on his back to avoid exhaustion. He reached land after an hour and ran for help.<\/p>\n
Steven said, \u201cI screamed for help at the top of my lungs and waved my arms. Little man made it to shore and got help, and that\u2019s what saved our lives.\u201d Steven and Abigail were rescued a mile from their boat.<\/p>\n
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue\u2019s Eric Prosswimmer praised the outcome, saying, \u201cWe\u2019re happy to say all three have been recovered and are doing well. We couldn\u2019t ask for a better outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n
This incident highlights the importance of extreme caution on the water with children. Share this story to warn others and praise Chase for his bravery.<\/p>\n