Oklahoma Girl's Persistence Saves Boy From Drowning

A 3-year-old boy's life was saved Sunday thanks to an unlikely hero.

Thursday, May 15th 2014, 5:07 pm

By: News 9


A 3-year-old boy's life was saved Sunday thanks to an unlikely hero.

On Mother's Day, family and friends of Tynlee Vermillion, 4, were enjoying the afternoon at a backyard pool in Lawton. That's where things turned scary in an instant, according to Tynlee's mom. But this story has a happy ending. The family from Blanchard said it's all thanks to Tynlee's persistence and outgoing attitude.

"She's very bossy," said mom Mindy Doolin. "She wants to know what everybody's doing."

That curiosity has the family calling Tynlee their little hero. They said adults were nearby, but it only took seconds for the boy to take off his floating device.

"I saw him in the water laying down flat," said Tynlee.

Doolin said Tynlee started tapping her on the leg saying, "Mama, mama, what's wrong?" That's when Tynlee started pointing to the boy who was face down in the water, not moving.

"I can't get that image out of my head of turning around and seeing that," Doolin said. "It was scary."

Tynlee told News 9 her mom jumped into the pool and laid the boy flat on grass. Lawton police officers, firefighters and paramedics were called to the home. The boy was blue. The family said CPR was performed before first responders arrived.

The boy was sent to a Lawton hospital and later transferred to OU Children's Hospital in Oklahoma City. Paramedics told the family a few seconds longer in the water would have killed the boy.

"It's your worst nightmare," said Doolin. "His blood pressure was so low, it wasn't registering."

The experience has taught young Tynlee a lesson she wants all children to know -- always wear a safety jacket. The family said the boy is doing fine now at his home in Lawton.

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