Ten-year-old Rickie August Jr. is being called a hero after he saved 5 year-old Egypt Bradly from drowning in a swimming pool in Houston on June 27, according to KHOU 11.
August Jr., who prefers to be called Junior, was at The Retreat at Cypress Station apartments when he saw little Egypt Bradly unconscious at the bottom of the swimming pool. Junior jumped in the swimming pool after taking a deep breath and swam to Bradly.
“When I saw her not moving at all, I knew there was something wrong,” said Junior. “I knew that she was not just trying to float, so I just had to go down there and get her. I just acted. I didn’t think about nothing. She was not breathing act all. She was like, passed out. I was very scared, and it was super sad.”
After Junior got Bradly out of the water, his family did CPR on the little girl. Junior had to look away because he was afraid he had been too late. By the time the paramedics arrived, Bradly had a pulse, was breathing and had vomited. An EMT later let Junior know that he helped save the little girl’s life.
Vivien Miller from Cypress Creek EMS said that Junior indeed saved Bradly’s life.
“It was vital to her survivability,” said Miller. “The fact that she is alive today is because of Junior’s efforts beforehand,.”
With everyone calling Junior a hero, the 10-year-old admitted to feeling like the hero he is and wants to inspire others.
“I felt like I was a real hero,” he said. “I like to be a leader for other kids because I think it’s important for other people to learn from what we do,” said Junior.
A must watch! Tonight I get to share a story that I don’t get to tell often. A little girl’s alive because another little boy (a stranger) saw her at the bottom of a pool and saved her. Their story and reunion tonight on #KHOU11 at 10. #drowning #watersafety #Houston #Hero pic.twitter.com/EwTuqicKdG
— Lauren Talarico (@KHOULauren) July 1, 2021
LET’S HEAR IT FOR THIS HERO — Rickie August, Jr.! ??? A little girl is alive because this Houston child saw her at the bottom of a pool and jumped in to help. “I just acted,” he says.
FULL STORY: https://t.co/jfgzAihc0d #HTownRush #KHOU11 @KHOULauren pic.twitter.com/S4JJ0lRVCA
— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) July 2, 2021
Junior’s Aunt, Tonya Taylor, said that the entire family was proud of their young hero.
“And also inspired,” she said. “It doesn’t matter your size or your age. You can make a difference. You can save a life. You can change the world. The whole family is extremely proud of him.”
The family had a surprise party for the young hero to celebrate and invited Bradly’s family. Egypt’s mother, Diamond Paulhill, told Junior that she loved him upon meeting her little girl’s young hero.
“I love you! I was so scared. My baby was not breathing. She wasn’t doing nothing. Not moving,” said Paulhill.
Egypt Bradly was equally grateful to meet her hero and gave Junior a hug as she said “Thank you!”
