Heroic Dad Critically Injured Jumping From A Balcony To Save His Son
As parents, we will do anything to protect our kids, even if that means sacrificing our own safety.
This dad jumped into action mode when he saw that his son was about to fall off a 13-foot balcony. He faced up to a year of recovery time in the hospital.
Protecting Your Kids
Raising a child isn't easy, but we have so much love for our kids, and we would do anything for them.
This family didn't expect that what was originally a usual Saturday would change their lives forever.
Meet The Lewis Family
Brad and Suz Lewis are a married couple. The two settled down in Australia to start a new life for themselves and their two sons, Oscar and Connor.
Brad Lewis originally had a career in the military, serving as an Army officer. After this, he began working in the North Sea as part of a deep-sea construction team.
The Incident
Brad Lewis and his 8-year-old son, Oscar, were playing with a Nerf gun at a friend's home in Sydney on August 4, 2018. Suddenly, one of the darts flew over a first-floor balcony.
Oscar ran over to the railing to see where the toy had gone and quickly lost his balance.
His Parental Instincts Kicked In
Without thinking twice, Lewis immediately raced over to grab him to stop him from falling over.
But, both Lewis and Oscar fell over the banister and plunged toward the concrete driveway below them.
A Dad's Quick Thinking
As they fell, Lewis wrapped himself around his son to cushion his son's fall.
Young Oscar was left with a concussion, a fractured skull, and a bruise on the brain. The good news? He was quickly discharged from the hospital after the incident.
He Sustained Some Serious Injuries
In saving his son, Brad's head took the majority of the fall. He fractured his skull, bruised his brain, and fractured some vertebrae.
Even in the immediate aftermath of his fall, he was most concerned about his boys.
He Was Only Thinking About His Kids
Beau, a friend of the family, was first on the scene. He recalled what Lewis was saying as he drifted in and out of consciousness.
Lewis said things such as: "Are the kids OK?", “don't let them see me like this”, and, “don’t let me die, mate.”
The Aftermath
Lewis survived, and even his doctors were astonished that he made it through having sustained the injuries that he did.
A friend, Annie Kendall, set up GoFundMe page with the goal of weathering the additional costs for his 6-12 month recovery. The family raised nearly $100,000!
After The Incident
A few weeks after the accident, the hospital released Lewis and sent him home to recover at home with his family.
His return was especially celebrated by Oscar, who said he missed his Daddy's hugs. Aw.
"Any Father Would Have Done The Same"
Even after the accident, Brad's constant consideration for others hasn’t changed. Everyone applauds the father’s heroic efforts, but he hardly thinks that he deserves any attention for doing what he did.
"I think any father would have done it for their child if put in the same situation," he told The Daily Telegraph. "I sit here now thanking my lucky stars Oscar and I are both here and are moving forward."
Lewis' Condition
According to doctors, the fact that this dad is still walking and talking is nothing short of a miracle.
The long-term effects on his brain still remain unclear, but his friends and family are praying that he’ll be back to his old self before long.
The GoFundMe
The family expressed their love and support for everyone who had donated. After the incident, a family friend claimed the following.
"While the family is still trying to come to terms with what happened, they are so incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support from their family, friends, and the wider community."
Lewis' Bravery Is A Part Of Who He Is
Back when it was active, a friend wrote the following on a Gofundme.
"Brad, husband to Suz, father of two boys, friend to many, a former army officer and deep-sea diver, has always spent his days supporting others, giving more than he gets, putting smiles on faces, and being a loving family man."
Boy, 7, Swims For Over An Hour To Get Help For Dad And Sister Stuck In Strong Current
Father Steven Poust of Jacksonville, Florida, took his two children out for a swim on the St. Johns River one sunny afternoon.
His children Chase, 7, and Abigail, 4, had both been out on the boat with their father many a time.
Abigail Dropped Into The Water
The two children were hanging off the edge of the anchored boat when Abigail had to drop off because the current was too strong.
Seeing his sister drop off, Chase let go as well to try to anchor her.
Dad Jumped In After Them
Seeing that both his kids were in the water, dad jumped in after them to help them.
He got ahold of Abigail who wasn't holding up well against the current, and he told Chase to swim for help.
Chase Wasn't Wearing A Life Jacket
Abigail was the only one of the kids wearing a life jacket, but once her dad got ahold of her, he sent Chase off. According to Florida law, children 6 and under are required to wear life jackets, so Chase was past the required age.
Chase was told by his dad to swim to shore to get help for the father and daughter.
Dad Told Him How Much He Loved Them
Afterward, Steven recounted that "I told them I loved them because I wasn't sure what's going to happen."
His daughter kept drifting away from him in the current and Dad was wearing himself out which is why he sent his son.
It Was A Tough Swim To Shore
The current was apparently going the opposite way, toward the boat, so swimming to shore was a tough task for Chase.
It took him about an hour to swim to the shore.
He Ran To The Nearest Home For Help
Once he reached the shore, the little boy ran to the nearest home so that he could get help for his family.
The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission came to the rescue.
The Dad And Daughter Had Floated Away From Their Boat
In the time that it took for Chase to get help, the current had taken Steven and Abigail about a mile away from where the boat was anchored.
Steven as well as his two kids made it out of the situation relatively unharmed.
Thank Goodness For Chase
When asked afterward how he became such a skilled swimmer, Chase answered honestly, "I have no idea."
All that matters is that the family is back together and all are safe.
