MARGATE, FLA. (WSVN) - A man who pulled a toddler from a lake and performed CPR to save the boy’s life is being hailed a hero while also being rewarded with a new iPhone after his was damaged during the rescue.
A local AT&T Store is giving 23-year-old Henry Tate III a new iPhone 7 after Tate’s phone was destroyed during the heroic rescue. “I was actually all right,” said Tate. “My girlfriend didn’t like it.”
The new phone came with a LifeProof case, which boasts strong resistance to water. “AT&T just wanted to help out by presenting you with an iPhone 7,” said AT&T Director of Sales Karl Blanco.
Members of the Margate Police Department were also at the store, located at 2204 University Drive in Coral Springs, during the presentation.
On Nov. 12, Margate Police responded to call regarding a child in a lake, near the Pinebroke Pointe Apartments.
Officials said the 2-year-old toddler wandered away from the apartment due to his family leaving the front door unlocked. It was only a short time before the caregiver realized he was gone.
Neighbors, including Tate, began to search for the toddler. Once found, Tate reacted quickly, kicking off his shows and diving into the water. Once he pulled him out of the water, he began performing CPR at the scene.
“I saw him floating,” said Tate. “I put my shoes on and clothes to try and help, and when I went outside, they let me know he is in the water.”
Tate also credits another woman at the scene in helping him perform CPR on the toddler. “As soon as we got a breath, she turned him over in the fetal position in perfect timing,” said Tate. “Thank God for the police, also. They got there in the nick of time.”
Once the child started breathing, Tate was overtaken by emotion. “I started crying,” he said. “It was definitely a sad situation because I wasn’t sure, but I believed he would come back, and he did.”
Tate moved from Tennessee to South Florida two weeks ago and was CPR certified only a week ago.
Police and Margate Fire Rescue arrived and took over after the boy regained consciousness, thanks to Tate.
“Hopefully this story can inspire people to go out there and get CPR and AD certified,” said Tate. “I wanna thank everyone for showing me this appreciation, and, overall, I’m just glad the kid is OK, and he’ll be blessed to see his third birthday.”
Tate currently works as a personal trainer but has considered work as an EMT. AT&T has also offered him a job.
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