FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - A 4-year-old girl is thanking her heroes after she was rescued from nearly drowning in a pool earlier this year.
It was Mother’s Day weekend when Destiny Desir was at a pool and began to drown.
Her brother, Christopher Pierre, would be the first to recognize her struggle and pull her to safety. Then two Good Samaritans performed CPR on Destiny until fire rescue arrived.
“I didn’t hear no splash or anything. It happened so quick, like, as soon as I saw her floating in the pool, I just jumped in. No hesitation,” said Christopher.
The family recalled the terror they felt that day.
“I was scared, in pain. I was scared, really scared,” said Christopher.
“I was devastated. It’s like the phone call, I didn’t know what else to say, I didn’t know what else to do. I just drove and then come to my house,” said Andjelina Mongrose, Destiny’s mother. “I was crying, it was really scary, it was a scary moment.”
Madison, one of the bystanders who performed CPR, spoke about Christopher’s bravery and swift action.
“Our backs were unfortunately turned to the kids and Christopher, I heard him scream ‘Destiny’ but I could tell they way he screamed her name, something was not right. And he flew, he literally flew over me, into the middle of the pool like superman and he picked her up and got her out of the water,” she said.
“She had no pulse, her tongue was hanging out, her lips were purple,” said Madison’s mother.
“Aren’t you so glad your brother was there that day?” asked 7News’ Reporter Brandon Beyer.
“Yea,” said Destiny.
“And he saved your life?” asked Beyer.
“Yea,” Destiny replied.
Once first responders got to the scene, they loaded Destiny into an ambulance where they continued to administer chest compressions and other life saving measures until they arrived at Broward Health Center, where she made a full recovery.
“We got there in four minutes. It never feels fast enough, so really, the bystander CPR absolutely, that’s like, that’s the changing moment right there,” said Danny Rodriguez.
Now, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue and Broward Health Center have partnered together in order to share Destiny’s story, but to also warn parents and guardians to closely monitor children when they are pool side or near any body of water.
“A near drowning requires an immediate and intense and urgent intervention that is often physically and emotionally taxing,” said the medical director for the pediatric emergency room at Broward Health Center, Dr. Francis Amador.
Officials stress that as summer is in full swing, it’s typical for children to spend more days at the pool but it shouldn’t happen without certain safety precautions in place, with the most important being teaching your children to swim.
Officials said it’s never too early or late to enroll kids in swimming lesson. This will give them the tools they need to be strong, defensive swimmers. If children are weak swimmers or non-swimmers, have them wear a life jacket when they are in the water.
The suggestion from officials was also echoed by Destiny’s mother.
“Learn how to swim because my son is not 100 percent good, but he was really good that day, yeah he was,” said Mongrose.
Paramedics appreciated the opportunity to see a former patient under more favorable circumstances.
“It’s the best. It’s best, like you said, you never, we never get too many follow-ups with our patients and this one could’ve been even more severe. It’s great seeing her come out, smiling, excited to be here,” said Rodriguez.
Parents can also use a pool safety net or cover when the pool isn’t in use.
As for the general public, fire officials encourage everyone to take a CPR course to stay prepared in the event of an emergency.
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