2 days ago
Teens hailed heroes for rescuing boy from Cleveland city pool: ‘They saved a life'
CLEVELAND (WJW) – Three teenagers who risked their own safety to save a young child who was drowning were honored Wednesday night for their heroism.
Fifteen-year-old Cameron Swann, 14-year old Kirvon Johnson and 14-year-old Kesean Wilson received a standing ovation and thunderous applause as they stepped up to get the awards.
'I had to do what I had to do with my boys,' said Wilson.
'I was scared,' added Johnson with a smile.
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The humble but courageous trio's quick thinking saved a 7-year-old child.
The teens were playing basketball early evening last Friday when they heard screaming coming from the nearby Lonnie Burten Recreation Center swimming pool.
Some small children had snuck inside and a small boy was unconscious, floating face down in 9-feet-deep water.
The teens jumped the fence without hesitation and sprang into action.
'I was about to dive in but I remembered I didn't know how to swim,' Kirvon said. 'So I jumped over the gate and grabbed the little pool noodle or whatever it was.'
He and Kesean stood by the side to help pull them out of the water as Camron dove into the pool.
'I had jumped in the pool. The first time, I couldn't see him, so I came back up and went back down and I grabbed his arm and put him on my shoulder,' said Swann.
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By that time, some adults who also heard the screams had arrived and began CPR.
The child was rushed to the hospital and listed in stable condition.
Almost immediately, the community wanted to honor the teens for their bravery.
'These are kids I'm around every day, so I wasn't surprised because this is what they do all the time. But for them to be brave enough to jump in that water, pull him out as a collective was amazing to me,' said Walter Patton, a community activist and creator of Ghetto Therapy at the Cleveland Clinic Langston Hughes Community Center.
Patton brought the teens there and presented them with an award.
Then, the Cleveland Clinic presented them with additional awards and special gear. Finally, Cleveland City Council and Councilman Richard Starr gave them a proclamation from the city.
'For them to just think quickly just shows you how much they care,' said Starr. 'They saved a life and had they not done what they did, we'd be having a different conversation.'
At times, the teens seemed overwhelmed by the attention.
'Everybody's looking at me,' said Kirvon.
'It's just amazing, like shocking,' said Camron, whose mom was also surprised.
'It's the way he told me,' said Joyce Swann. 'He was like, 'I saved a little boy.' I was like, 'how'd you do that?' 'I jumped in the pool' and I said, 'you know how to swim?' I mean, I knew he could swim, but I didn't know good enough to save a person.'
'I'm proud of him, I'm really really proud of him,' she added.
All of the families, the entire central neighborhood and city of Cleveland are beaming with pride and gratitude for these young heroes who said they just did what needed to be done.
'Like I said, if I was drowning, I would want someone to save me too,' said Kesean.
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