Boy who drowned meets paramedics who saved him

It happened in Torquay last summer

A seven year old boy from Torquay has met the paramedic who saved his life after drowning last year. 

Riley Broome was in the swimming pool at the Riviera International Centre in Torquay with his younger brother and grandmother when he went underwater.

Lifeguard Ben Sanders-Wyatt pulled Riley out of the water, unconscious and not breathing.

Ben and an off-duty nurse began to do CPR on Riley in an effort to resuscitate him, while staff called 999 to get more help.

SWASFT Student Paramedic Joe Cartwright, who was at the venue with his family, stepped in to help Riley to continue breathing, and to keep him warm.

Riley has autism and is now age seven. He is still said to be traumatised by what happened in September 2018.  

This morning he visited Torquay Ambulance Station with his mum, Tash, to thank the SWASFT staff for what they did.

Tash, who was at home with her new-born baby at the time of the incident, said: “A normal Saturday morning almost turned into the worst of my life. I got a call to say Riley was face down in the deep end. But the lifeguard, the off-duty nurse, and the off-duty paramedic were amazing. They brought him back to life. I’m so thankful.

“Having seen the CCTV footage, this seems to have been an example of silent drowning, because no one realised what was happening to Riley until someone bumped into him.

“When you go swimming with young children, you’ve got to have eyes in the back of your head, because you never know what might happen.”

Student Paramedic Joe, who is also a retained firefighter, said: “I was told that a boy had been pulled from the water and was not breathing. When I arrived to help he was grey, but then he began coughing up water and breathing for himself.

“At first he was barely conscious. I kept talking to him, and tried to keep him calm and warm. I monitored him and checked his breathing until the crews arrived. Then I carried him into the ambulance.

“The nurse and the lifeguard did an amazing job with the initial CPR. I’m pleased I was able to help with the CPR and the post-resuscitation care. At the time my training and adrenaline took over, but once I had time to reflect I realised the magnitude of what had just happened.”

If you suspect someone is drowning: attempt to rescue them if safe, begin CPR if they aren’t breathing, and call 999 for an ambulance.