People say that a 7-year-old boy saved his father and 4-year-old sister when they got caught in a strong current during a boating trip on Florida’s St. Johns River over the holiday weekend. He did this by swimming to shore and calling for help.
Steven Poust, the father, told Jax4 TV that he anchored his boat in the river on Friday while he fished and his kids played.
Chase Poust said that his sister Abigail couldn’t hold on to the boat because the current was too strong. He also let go to stay with her. A life jacket was only on the girl. Chase told the station, “I was really scared.”
Their father jumped into the water to get her. Then Chase started swimming toward the shore.
Their father told the station, “I told them I loved him because I didn’t know what was going to happen.” “I did my best to stay with both of them. I was worn out. She started to move away from me.”
Chase kept swimming, doing doggie paddles, and floating on his back so he wouldn’t get tired. Chase said, “The current was going against the way to the boat and the shore, so it was hard to swim that way.” He got to land in about an hour. He ran to the house closest to him to get help.
The father and daughter were found about a mile from their boat by crews from the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Poust said, “I yelled for help as loudly as I could and waved my arms, and sure enough, someone heard us.” “Little man also got to land and got help, which saved our lives.”
Eric Prosswimmer from the fire department said that neither the 7-year-old nor the father had to wear a life vest. For boats less than 26 feet (8 meters) long, the law covers children younger than 6 years old.
At a news conference, JFRD spokesman Eric Prosswimmer said, “We had all the help we could have gotten quickly, and we’re happy to say that all three have been found and are doing well.”
“We couldn’t ask for a better result,” PostSwimmer says.
Chase Poust is being called a hero all over the world, and for good reason. The 7-year-old boy was so brave that he swam a mile by himself to save his family.
Chase went on a journey by himself to save himself and his family. We all have the power to do amazing things. Everywhere you look, you’ll find unlikely heroes. Don’t ever underestimate a person who can love and stay alive. They might come through when you’re not looking for them to.