A group of four boys ranging in age from 8-17 was hanging out by a canal behind their California home looking for fish earlier this week. Then they saw something a little bigger in the fast-moving water. They thought it was a doll.
Instead it was a 3-year-old girl, Alice Falk. She'd somehow managed to wander away from her home and fall into the canal. She had floated for about a half mile while her family was frantically searching for her. According to the Visalia Times-Delta, she was unconscious and not breathing when they jumped in to save her.
Hogan, 17, Victor Vasquez Jr., 12, George Castillo, 13, and Robert Vasquez, 8, were able to get her out, but she wasn't in good shape. Gilbert told the Fresno Bee: "She was unconscious. She was pale and purple. I thought, 'This girl is going to die.' "
Then they ran to get help from one of their fathers, Victor Vasquez. He was able to give her CPR. “It was just instinct,” he told the paper. “At that moment, I forgot everything. I was in shock. I have never experienced anything like that.”
But it worked. The girl responded, and shortly thereafter an ambulance arrived. She's expected to make a full recovery. It's an amazing story of luck, heroic action by these boys, and ultimately a happy ending. It could have just as easily ended in tragedy.
Sadly, however, some in the town weren't content with that, instead they went and attacked the mother of the girl for letting her girl wander away. Farmersville Police Chief Mario Krstic said they were trying to get "maybe a little street justice," which is so very wrong.
Police say it was just an unfortunate accident, and people should leave it at that. I'm sure this mother is punishing herself more than anyone else ever could.
As for the boys, the town may officially recognize them as heroes. In any case, they certainly have a wonderful topic for those "What I did on my summer vacation" pieces when they return to school.
What's the best thing your children have done this summer?
Image via ABC30
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Comments 30
What a amazine boys there was.Your parents did a great job in bring you all up,i know they so proud .
Wow Tiffany. You must be the worlds best parent. You are going to be in for a very rude awakening one day. You can baby-proof your house an bubble rap everything. Do you really think that its going to prevent an "accident" from happening. HECK NO! And if you think otherwise, you are clearly blinded. A friend of mine has her child in a highchair( strapped in) turned around to grab her plate of food and the child got out and ended up drowning in a near by river. So if you think for one second that putting a fence up or locking your doors is going to prevent something from happening. Even if you turn your back for a split second. You are sadly mistaken. Open your eyes instead of opening your mouth.
I live in a state where kids drown all the time and there is ways to prevent it from happening! I'm pretty sure if you go threw these precautions it's a lot less likely your kid will get out and drown.. I know accidents WILL happen but they obviously didn't have anything from preventing it from happening and that's all my point is..hopefully they learned a lesson and for other's to learn from and watch your kids around water! Get a fence to at least have some sort of avoidance..
@Sheila Dillard Thank you for your kind words. I try my hardest every single day to forgive myself and to a point I have, but it is hard and long coming. I just pray that Tiffany n Angell never has to go through something like myself or this mother almost went through. She will be eating her words. Like I said before, this woman and many like myself know what their actions, no matter what precautions were taken to prevent it, has caused. And it is the most hurtful thing in the world and makes me relive every second of losing her when I read their "opinions" that they would have been more classy to keep to themselves :(
Wow, good for the boys and awesome their dad knew CPR! I think some of you did not read the article, they lived in a apartment complex, the mother has no control over "so called high locks", and the baby probably never ever went near the canal until the day she fell in. The mom reported her daughter missing before the boys found her, she did every thing right, and thankfully their was a good outcome for once :) I never knew how skilled toddlers were with getting into trouble, my son used the toilet for two minutes and had flooded the bathroom and hallway when I went to see if he needed help. Kids are quick and tenacious.
Way to go boys and the dad! Thank goodness they were there and able to save her.
Sorry, but I will have to say that a 3 year old should never be out of your sight! Parents of toddlers must be ridiculously attentive to their little ones. Sorry if you all don't like that, but I don't consider toddlers in the water "accidents". Only parents who are ignoring their little one(s) or being inattentive would have this happen. Too many parents these days think their own fun is more important! Don't have children if you don't want to be true parents!
omg that made me cry. such a heartwarming ending to a horrific accident. that little girl is so lucky. the scariest part of this whole thing is most people would hae stood there and did nothing. s glad somene brought those boys up right.