Friday, Jun. 27, 2008

Riverbank boy, 12, saves 4-year-old from drowning

RIVERBANK -- With the thermometer hitting 100 degrees and the pavement sizzling under his shoes, Josh Kemp jumped at the opportunity to dive into the pool last weekend.

"One of my friends said his dad would take us to the pool, so we all went," the 12-year old Riverbank boy said. "We'll usually swim for a while, then sit around in the shade so we can stay cool."

Sunday would be no usual day, however -- for Josh, or for Modestan Kristy Padgett and her 4-year-old daughter, Destiny.

The combination of Josh's instincts and the confidence that comes with being a strong swimmer turned what could have been a tragedy into a heroic act.

Josh lives at Quail Meadows Mobile Home Park, having recently moved from Fresno with his family. Padgett was at the park visiting her mother-in-law. The two families were at the park's pool, with a handful of other people, when disaster nearly struck.

Just as Padgett turned to hand her 9-month-old daughter, Bailey, to a sibling at one end of the pool, she heard a big splash at the other end -- 45 feet away.

She turned to see Destiny surface, only to see her go under. Two more times the mother watched in horror as the little blonde surfaced and disappeared in the water. Then it all went quiet.

"I was trying to run in the water, but I was getting nowhere," Padgett said. "All I could think was, 'My baby's drowning.' Finally, I yelled for someone to help."

That's when Josh saw tiny bubbles breaking the surface, jumped out of his chair and dived. He went to the bottom of the 5-foot pool, scooped up a struggling Destiny and clutched her tightly as he swam to the surface.

Padgett, who had frantically swam the length of the pool, lifted her daughter out of the pool. Destiny spit out some water and began crying loudly, signs to her mother that she wasn't badly injured.

Padgett cradled Destiny in her arms and walked her near the pool, hoping to minimize any lingering fear of the water. Then she thanked her daughter's rescuer and quickly left with her children.

"It was a blur, everything happening so fast I never even got a name," Padgett said Thursday.

On Monday, Padgett went back to the park to locate Josh.

"When I found Josh, he told me he just did what was needed," she said. "He didn't consider himself a hero."

Josh was just as humble while explaining to his mother how he saved the girl from drowning.

"Everyone at the pool told me I was a hero, but I did what I've always been taught," Josh said. "If someone needs help, you help them. It's the right thing to do."

Josh, who will attend Ustach Middle School in the fall, said he's been swimming since he was 4.

"I wasn't able to talk to (Destiny) Sunday, but what I would tell all kids is don't get near the pool unless you're a good swimmer or have a floatie," Josh said with a smile.

Bee staff writer Richard T. Estrada can be reached at restrada@modbee.com or 578-2300.