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Video: Firefighters save drowning boy from quarry

Moments before he jumped off ledge, boy told 2 teens, ‘If I drown, call 911'

By Steve Fogarty
The Chronicle Telegram

ELYRIA, Ohio — Moments before he jumped off a ledge into the old Republic Steel quarry around 2:25 p.m. Tuesday, Amir Elkhatib told two Elyria teens, “If I drown, call 911.” A few minutes later, Elkhatib, who jumped into the quarry with three buddies, was in trouble.

“Halfway across, he said he couldn’t do it,” Isaac Jones said. “We said, ‘We’re coming,’ and jumped in.”

Jones and Board talked about the incident as they gazed across the quarry as Elkhatib was tended to by Elyria firefighters who had rappelled down a rock ledge to reach him. Firefighters Robert Atkinson, Nick Bezbatchenko and John Vencl were the main firefighters involved in the rescue, according to fire Capt. James Cawley. The men were later charged with trespassing, according to police.

Full story: Video: Elyria firefighters rescue distressed quarry swimmer