CULLMAN, Ala. – Members of the Cullman County Diving Team were holding a scuba-diving class at Smith Lake Park’s pool when commotion began involving a minor male in a potential drowning incident on Saturday afternoon.
Trimble and Crane Hill Firefighter Ricky Krause, who is also a member of the dive team, shared with the Tribune how fast a situation like this can progress. He said the incident happened around 2:30 p.m.
“We were teaching a class when it happened and began hearing people yell and leave the beach to get to him,” Krause said. “Myself and diving team member David Brooks headed toward where the boy was and David was able to get to him quickly because he was in full dive gear.”
Krause said they, along with bystanders, were able to put him on an inflatable mattress and pull him into shore to take further precautionary measures and assess the situation.
“He was unconscious but breathing—so not alert but had a pulse,” Krause said. “They had initially planned to med-flight him out but were able to put him on 100% oxygen in the ambulance when it arrived and, after two to three minutes, he became alert and coherent.”
Krause said the incident ended around 3:30 p.m., and the potential drowning victim was taken by ambulance to be evaluated.
Another member of the dive team, Eric Parker was also on scene helping with the incident.
The victim’s current condition has not yet been released.
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