What a Florida Pool Scare Taught Me About Child Safety

From the COLlive inbox: A grandfather shares the frightening pool rescue in Florida that ended in a miracle and the life-saving message every family should hear.

By A Zaidy

It was a blissful afternoon for this proud Zaidy.

We had rented a large house to accommodate the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren joining us for Pesach. The property came with an added perk: a backyard swimming pool.
On the third day of Chol Hamoed, our daughter and son-in-law had an important errand to do, and I was asked if I would be capable of being the pool supervisor. I was delighted to accept the opportunity.

I found myself outside in the warm Florida sunshine, watching two of my grandchildren — ages five and ten — splashing happily in the water.

As I stood there reflecting on the beauty of spending Yom Tov together as a family, perhaps still replaying the special moments of our sedarim in my mind, something suddenly felt off. The squeals of delight from the pool had quieted.

Looking up, I saw my five-year-old grandson beneath the surface of the water. And he was not coming back up.

“*Dovid! Dovid!” I screamed frantically.

His older brother tried reassuring me. “Don’t worry, Zaidy! He knows how to swim!”

But Dovid was still under the water. Then I saw him flailing beneath the surface. I immediately jumped into the pool fully clothed, grabbed hold of him, and hoisted him above the water.
Holding him high above my head, I could immediately see that something was terribly wrong. His eyes were dilated. His skin color was off. He had clearly been drowning.

I cried out for my wife *Rochel, who was inside the house.

Hearing the terror in my voice, she came running outside and instantly understood the gravity of the situation. We laid Dovid down on the grass beside the pool and finally took our first breath of relief when he began coughing, but his eyes were now closed.

We called Hatzolah and true to form, they arrived within minutes.

As the Hatzolah members attended to Dovid, we watched his eyes open and his color slowly return to normal.

After examining him and conducting a series of tests, the medic told us that Boruch Hashem, he was fine.

The unspoken word was that had he remained submerged even a few seconds longer, chas v’shalom, there could have been a very different outcome. Instead, by the kindness of the Ribbono Shel Olam, everything turned out beautifully.

There are no words to describe the relief and gratitude our family felt. I cannot count how many times I’ve since repeated the posuk, “Hodu la-Hashem ki tov ki l’olom chasdo.”

On the advice of a Rav, my son-in-law recited Birchas HaGomel the next day, and we held an emotional Seudas Hodaah in thanksgiving to Hashem for the miracle we experienced.

A few days later, after everyone had returned home, little Dovid called me to wish me a Good Shabbos. “Zaidy,” he said sweetly, “thank you for saving my life.”

The truth is that I remain haunted by those moments. I cannot shake the terror and dread I felt watching a child disappear beneath the water in complete silence. And I cannot stop thinking about the many families who experienced similar moments that ended very differently, Rachmana litzlan.

That is why I decided to write this article — to channel this painful experience into something beneficial for the greater community…

With summer approaching — when camps, bungalow colonies, resorts, pools, lakes, beaches, and water activities will become part of daily life — I would like to issue a heartfelt plea to parents, grandparents, counselors, teachers, and caretakers everywhere: Never become casual about water safety.

The Torah commands us: “Lifnei iveir lo sitein michshol — Do not place a stumbling block before the blind.” Beyond its literal meaning, the spirit of this mitzvah reminds us not to create or allow situations that place vulnerable people in danger.

And few are more vulnerable than children near water.

The Torah likewise commands: “Lo saamod al dam rei’echa — Do not stand idly by the blood of your fellow.” Rashi explicitly cites rescuing someone from drowning as an example of this obligation. And elsewhere the Torah commands: “V’asisa maakeh l’gagecha — You shall make a protective fence for your roof.”

Together, these mitzvos remind us that protecting life requires vigilance, foresight, and personal responsibility.

Children should never enter pools or bodies of water unsupervised — even if they know how to swim. Gates, barriers, buddy systems, lifeguards, and clearly enforced rules are not merely “extra” precautions.

They are essential safeguards when children’s lives are at stake.

And perhaps most importantly, when supervising children near water, there can be no distractions. No diverted attention. No assumptions that someone else is watching.

Because drowning does not happen loudly. Sometimes it happens in silence. And sometimes, it’s a matter of seconds.

I know that nothing written here is revolutionary. Most of us already know these things.

But perhaps that is precisely the danger. The things we know are often the very things that become routine — and therefore no longer receive the heightened caution they warrant.

So, I write this not merely as personal catharsis, but as a heartfelt plea from one Yid to another: please remain vigilant at all times.

If even one child is protected because someone reads these words more carefully, then writing them will have been more than worthwhile.

Vigilance around water is not simply good advice.

It is pikuach nefesh.

Wishing all a very safe, healthy, enjoyable and fulfilling summer,

*Actual names have been changed

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