A day at the beach is usually the perfect way to escape the scorching heat. But for one mother from Massachusetts, the shoreline held unexpected dangers that she never imagined. Now, she wants to warn others about what happened.
Even though it’s been over a week since the incident, Heather Cassini says she’s still “shaking” from the experience.
On July 4, Heather and her 10-year-old son, Declan, were enjoying a day at Hampton Beach in New Hampshire. Everything seemed normal until Declan suddenly said he didn’t feel well.
At first, Heather wasn’t too concerned. It was a hot day, and Declan had been playing in the ocean for a while. In a Facebook post that has since gone viral, Heather wrote, “I thought maybe the waves were too much after breakfast, and he just needed to lie down.” But as they started heading back, Declan became “disoriented” and stumbled into a nearby sunbather.
He managed to stand up, but then he collapsed again.
“I was desperately trying to pick him up,” Heather told Today.com. “But I’m pregnant, and it was hard. He was throwing up, going in and out of consciousness, and he looked so pale.”
A group of women nearby noticed the commotion and quickly stepped in to help. Paramedics were called, and they worked to keep Declan warm and alert while checking his vitals.
“Thank God for the people around us,” Heather said. “There were so many nurses.”
“After what felt like forever, he finally woke up and started talking,” Heather continued. “We got him to the car and waited for him to feel better.”
Later, it was revealed that Declan had suffered from hypothermia, caused by the 52-degree ocean water.
“I had no idea this could happen,” Heather admitted. “I never thought about cold shock. We usually worry about sunburns, dehydration, and the usual water dangers.”
Declan’s quick recovery was a relief, but the experience left Heather determined to warn others about the risk of hypothermia, even in the summer.
“To all the parents out there with kids who love the water and don’t feel cold—just because they seem fine doesn’t mean they can handle it,” she advised.
“It never crossed my mind that hypothermia could strike on a hot summer day,” she added. “This is a message everyone needs to hear, not just parents.”
Share your thoughts in the comments down below!
