A day at the beach is often a perfect way to cool off during scorching summer heat, but for one Massachusetts mother, it became a frightening reminder of the unexpected dangers the ocean can pose.
Now, she’s sharing her experience to caution others.
Though the incident occurred more than a week ago, Heather Cassini, 40, is still shaken by the events. She was at Hampton Beach in New Hampshire with her family on July 4 when her 10-year-old son, Declan, suddenly complained of feeling unwell.
At first, Cassini didn’t think much of it. It was a hot day, and Declan had been playing in the ocean.
“I thought maybe the waves were too much after breakfast, and he just needed to rest,” Cassini explained in a Facebook post that quickly went viral. However, as they began heading back to their car so Declan could lie down, he became confused and collapsed onto a sunbather.
Although he briefly managed to stand, Declan soon fell again.
“I’m pregnant and desperately trying to lift him up,” Cassini recalled in an interview with Today.com. “He kept losing consciousness, throwing up, and his face went pale.”
Nearby women noticed the situation and rushed to help. Paramedics arrived quickly, monitoring his vitals while working to keep him alert and warm.
“Thank goodness for all the kind people around us. So many nurses stepped in,” Cassini expressed.
“After what felt like an eternity, he finally sat up and started talking. We waited until he felt better and then got him into the car,” Cassini shared.
Doctors later confirmed that Declan had suffered from hypothermia after swimming in the 52-degree ocean water.
“I never would have guessed this could happen,” Cassini admitted. “You think about things like sunburns or dehydration at the beach, but hypothermia never crossed my mind.”
Now that Declan is fully recovered, Cassini wants to raise awareness about the risk of hypothermia even during the summer.
“I just want to warn parents with kids who love the water and don’t feel the cold. Just because they seem fine doesn’t mean they’re immune to it.”
“I had no idea hypothermia could happen on a hot summer day!” she added. “This is an important lesson for everyone, not just parents.”