Police laud lieutenant for rescuing child

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Danny Monahan
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (AFPN) --  A lieutenant from the 91st Operations Support Squadron here earned praise from Ohio police officials recently for helping save the life of a 2-year-old boy who was drowning in a pond.

First Lt. David Cathell was on vacation in eastern Ohio when he and his two cousins saved the boy.

The lieutenant and his cousins, Ron Hyde and Jerry Lyle, were about to tee off the eighth hole at a golf course in East Liverpool, Ohio, when they noticed two young children playing on the green.

When the men arrived to hit their second shots, they noticed the two children were no longer in sight. Mr. Hyde was about to strike his ball when they saw a 3-year-old girl coming toward them.

As she walked closer, Mr. Hyde heard her saying “he’s in the water,” speaking of the 2-year-old boy.

Lieutenant Cathell and Mr. Hyde immediately ran across the fairway to the pond, while Mr. Lyle dialed 911.

Reaching the pond’s shoreline, they could not see the boy. After a brief search, they saw him right below the waterline about 10 to 15 feet from shore.

They immediately jumped into the water and retrieved the boy.

“Jumping in was instinct; anybody would have done the same,” said the missile combat crew instructor. “I have a 1-year-old (child), and it was very emotional to see that boy not moving.”

Mr. Hyde was the first to reach him, and the boy immediately spit up water and started breathing. He handed the child to the lieutenant, who then handed him to his other cousin who was waiting on an embankment.

Mr. Hyde then took the young girl to look for her family. Lieutenant Cathell and Mr. Lyle comforted the boy as they waited for the paramedics to arrive and take the child to the hospital.

“Because of the alertness of these three men, a sure tragedy was averted,” said St. Clair Police Chief Donald T. Hyatt. “Their willingness to become involved in this situation and their quick actions were truly heroic.”

“I’m extremely proud of Lieutenant Cathell. As a result of his quick reaction and Samaritan spirit, he was able to save a young child’s life,” said Lt. Col. H.B. Brual, 91st OSS commander.