Father Drowns Trying To Save Son At Whitinsville Pond
WHITINSVILLE (CBS) - A father has died and his son is in serious condition after they were pulled from a pond in Whitinsville on Tuesday.
The two were fishing from the shore at Meadow Pond, when the son fell in. The father jumped in trying to save him.
Two passers-by also jumped in to attempt rescue, as did three Northbridge police officers, and the Fire Chief.
Jonathan Dawe, who lives nearby in Northbridge, was the first to jump in after the victims.
"I was walking by the pond when some people on the side of the road yelled, "Help! There's somebody in the water." Dawe says he saw something in the water. "I could see his shirt." He says the water was full of weeds and fishing lines. "I'm a Dad. My prayers and thoughts are with the family," says Dawe.
Another good Samaritan also jumped in. "I got there just as everyone was already in. They just looked like they needed some help," says David Frieswick. "I didn't do anything heroic. I just tried to help."
WBZ-TV's Christina Hager reports.
The father has been identified as 43-year-old Sarwat Hanna. His six-year-old son Yousef is in serious condition. The family is from Uxbridge.
They were both unresponsive when pulled out.
Crews gave both victims CPR and rushed them to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.
WBZ-TV's Christina Hager contributed to this report.
