Toti man helps save drowned child

Jacques Kruger, 34, who has been employed by Blue Security for the past eight months, after moving to Toti from Johannesburg, said he was on a routine patrol in Carrington Heights when the child’s mother, Samantha Fleming ran out into the road in front of him. “The mother came out shouting “my child, my child needs help”.

Kruger said he immediately radioed the company’s control centre to advise he was stepping out of his vehicle. His first thoughts were that a crime, such as a hijacking, could have taken place and that a gang may have driven off with her, that there had been an accident at home, or that she had fallen into the swimming pool.

Jacques said he rushed onto the property and found Tamia, 3, who appeared lifeless, lying next to the pool. Her lips had already turned blue. Jacques said adrenaline kicked in and he immediately administered CPR on the child.

“She slowly started breathing again and had a faint pulse, but her eyes were still closed,” said Jacques. Paramedics arrived a few minutes later and took the child to hospital. She was discharged two days later in good health.

“When I called her father the next day, he said the nurses at the hospital told him she was responding to questions and she was her normal self.” Her father, Remo Fleming said his daughter was doing well and the security company was his family’s ‘saviour’.

Jacques said he was merely doing his best to serve the local community. “I’m a believer in God and I believe if God wants someone to live, then he will send someone to help. I just give God all the glory. I will help anyone who needs help,” he said.

This was not the first time he had used his knowledge of CPR to save a life. “About seven years ago when I was working in Johannesburg I helped a man who had a heart attack. The adrenaline kicked in and I did what I had to do,” he said.