11-year-old boy in critical condition after rescued by 13-year-old from drowning in Everett lake

A 11-year-old boy is in critical condition at Providence Regional Medical Center after nearly drowning Monday afternoon at Silver Lake in Everett.

The child fell from a dock and into the water at Thornton A. Sullivan Park around 2:50 p.m., according to the Everett Fire Department. Investigators said witnesses told first responders the boy did not resurface, prompting bystanders to search for him.

A 13-year-old who was swimming nearby dove repeatedly into the lake in an effort to find the child. After several attempts, he was able to bring the boy to the surface, where people on the dock helped pull him up. Three nurses who were at the lake immediately began performing CPR, along with other bystanders. According to witness accounts, the boy had been underwater for four to six minutes. Medics were able to restore a pulse before transporting the child to Providence.

WA Parks urges water safety after near-drowning in Everett

The incident comes on the heels of a push by Washington State Parks to emphasize water and boating safety.

In the past two years, there have been 23 recreational boating fatalities in Washington, with 86% of those incidents involving people not wearing life jackets, according to Rob Sendack with Washington State Parks.

Everett investigators said the 11-year-old boy did not know how to swim. As of Monday evening, he had regained consciousness and was receiving further medical treatment.

Everett Fire officials praised the 13-year-old for his heroic actions, crediting his quick response with helping to save the boy’s life. They also emphasized the importance of CPR training and water safety, particularly during the busy summer months.

Washington State Parks advised people to avoid swimming in cold water and remember the “reach, throw, don’t go” rule, which involves extending a pole or throwing a life preserver to someone who falls into the water, rather than diving in after them.

“When somebody falls into the water, your first impulse might be to jump in and help them, but you should avoid doing that,” Ashley Sidel, a spokesperson for Washington State Parks’ Recreational Boating Safety Program, said.

The Everett Fire Department stated the boy was 10 years old in a previous news release, but later updated to reflect he was 11 years old.

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