Lifeguards have an extremely important job. Whether itโs a pool, a lake, a river, or the ocean, lifeguards are the eyes and ears of safety on the water. And if someone is in danger? Theyโre the first ones to rush in to help.
Michael Wood, a 16-year-old lifeguard, is being hailed as a hero for saving a toddler.
He was working at the Westwood Club when he noticed something not right. He looked hard at the bottom of the poolโs shallow end.
There, he saw a young boy.
At first, he thought the child was just having a bit of fun. However, after assessing the situation, he realized that the boy wasnโt playing any game. He was really struggling for his life.
In the interview, Michael shared:
โI thought he was actually playing and holding his breath underwater.โ
When he realized that something was wrong, he quickly took action.
He said:
โI knew what I had to do โ I jumped in, grabbed the kid out, and sure enough, he was completely passed out and he was not breathing.โ
When Michael reached the boy, he was already โpale blue-grayโ in color.
This was a clear sign that thereโs not enough oxygen getting into the boyโs lungs. After realizing that, Michael quickly performed CPR.
Michael felt a sense of relief when the boy showed signs of life.
He said:
โHis cheeks turned bright red, and the color returned to his face.โ
Right after seeing what happened, Michael started crying.
โAnd I was like, Praise God for that! It was scary, but once he started crying, I just sat back and cried too, because I knew that he was fine.โ
People whoโve seen what happened praised Michael.
However, he insisted that heโs just doing his job. And even though he admits that being a lifeguard isnโt the easiest workaround, he finds it rewarding.
Michael is the grandson of Mike Wade, the Henrico County Sheriff.
When he heard the news, he quickly called Michael. The teenager shared that he had saved a two-year-old.
As a grandfather, the sheriff was just so proud.
He shared:
โ[The rescue] tells me a lot about him. I couldnโt ask for a better grandson. Heโs my favorite grandson. Of course, heโs my only grandson.โ
Henrico County police started investigating the incident.
However, they donโt suspect neglect or any foul play. When they arrived, the toddler was doing well. In fact, he was already being chatty with them when they reached the scene. To make sure of the boyโs safety, he was brought to a hospital where he got checked.
Itโs not the first time Michael rescued someone in distress.
He was also able to save a young boy who nearly drowned after jumping into the deep end of the pool. This just proves that Michael really has the heart to become a lifeguard. Heโs willing to do everything he can to save other peopleโs lives.
Plus, he acts fast, too. He knows exactly what to do when someoneโs drowning or struggling in the water. As a lifeguard, thatโs a vital skill.
Watch Michaelโs entire interview in the touching video below.
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