Police have issued an urgent warning to parents after shocking video footage emerged revealing adults swimming past a drowning seven-year-old boy.
Griffin Emerson, was swimming at an apartment complex's pool in Fenton, Michigan, when he got into danger.
The distressing CCTV recording shows Griffin struggling to keep his head above water after removing his inflatable armbands. Oblivious to the peril he was in, adults continued swimming, leaving Griffin submerged for nearly a minute before he was rescued.
He was eventually saved when Noah Roche, 12, and his eight-year-old brother, Weston Woods, noticed Griffin's distress and promptly sprang into action.
Noah recalled spotting Griffin at the bottom of the pool and sensing that something was wrong.
"I saw him at the bottom of the pool and then I didn't know if he was just playing down there or something. So I just told Weston to get in and dive down to see if he's OK."
Weston added: "His head was going up and down. I knew he wasn't OK.”
Acting swiftly, Weston dived in, grasped Griffin, and brought him to the surface before carrying him to safety.
Griffin's mother, Sylese Roche, dialed 911, informing the operator that her son had turned blue and stopped breathing.
As she awaited emergency assistance, she promptly performed CPR on Griffin, successfully reviving him.
Expressing his fear during the ordeal, Griffin said: "I was scared I was gonna drown. It felt all weird. I spit out some water and that's it."
Sheriff Christopher Swanson of Genesee County praised Noah and Weston as the heroes of the day, commending their swift action.
He said: "There were two heroes who saw this and unbeknown to anybody, they jumped into the pool and they picked up the 7-year-old [and] dragged him to the side.
"Here's the best part - the two rescuers are 12 and eight years old."
Tom Kinczkowski, Griffin's grandfather, said: "Most heroes don't wear capes and that's these guys. Without these guys, he wouldn't be here right now."
Following the incident, the Genesee County Sheriff's Office shared three vital tips with the public, emphasizing the importance of being aware of surroundings, acquiring CPR skills, and teaching children swimming techniques.
The Sheriff's Office say the incident is a reminder of the critical role of vigilance and quick response in preventing tragedies in the water.
