By Amy McDaniel
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
ALVARADO, Texas — An off-duty North Texas firefighter saved the lives of three children after a boat carrying nine people flipped over on Alvarado Lake on the Fourth of July , according to Alvarado officials.
The three children were trapped underneath the boat when it capsized.
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Jason Horne, a veteran medic and firefighter with the Midlothian Fire Department, told Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV that he was boating nearby with his family when a group of people called for help.
Horne dove into the water, swam under the boat and pulled out a boy, who was breathing, he told WFAA. Horne dove back underwater and this time found a girl who was unresponsive. He said he then climbed onto the capsized boat’s hull and performed CPR on the child while his daughter called 911.
After the girl began breathing, Horne began searching for the third child. Other bystanders managed to flip the boat back over, and the boy rose to the surface, WFAA reported. Horne restored the boy’s pulse before bringing him to the dock.
When Alvarado firefighters and police arrived, they provided additional emergency care, and the three children were taken to a hospital for evaluation, according to the police department.
“We are incredibly grateful for the courageous and selfless actions of the off-duty firefighter whose immediate response made a critical difference during this emergency,” the Alvarado Police Department said. “His willingness to act without hesitation exemplifies the very best of the public safety profession.”
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