'Musketeers' come to friend's rescue

JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/FAIRFAX NZ

AQUATIC FEAT: Nine-year-old Luke Rathgen, centre, is lucky his friends, Jack Dawson, 9, left, and Dylan Flatman, 10, were watching his back while swimming at Southbridge pool.

A day at the pool almost ended in tragedy for Luke Rathgen, aged 9, but the quick-thinking of two friends saved his life.

Luke, Jack Dawson, 9, and Dylan Flatman, 10, were swimming in the Southbridge Community Pool on Friday, January 20.

The Leeston boys, dubbed the "three musketeers' by their parents, had been in the water for just under two hours when Luke struck problems about 3.45pm. Luke remembered little of what happened – only that he was in deep water, and could not call out to a lifeguard.

A boy swimming nearby noticed Luke was missing, and spotted him underwater.

Jack and Dylan shot into action, diving to the bottom of the pool and pulling Luke to the surface.

"He was right at the bottom at the deep end," Dylan said. "We dragged him to the top and helped him float."

The boys attracted the attention of lifeguards, who rushed to revive Luke, who was unconscious.

By the time St John paramedics and the Westpac rescue helicopter had arrived, Luke was conscious and talking to his friends and father, David Rathgen, who had raced to the pool when he heard the news.

Rathgen said Luke had coped better than he did, reminding the paramedics he was allergic to penicillin, which his father had forgotten about.

Rathgen and his son flew with the helicopter crew to Christchurch Hospital, where Luke's mother, Lee Rathgen, who had been in the city that afternoon, was waiting to meet them.

Luke spent the night in hospital under observation. He was discharged the next day, and back with friends, Jack and Dylan, on Sunday afternoon.

"I've told him he doesn't have to go to such extremes next time if he wants to fly in a helicopter," David Rathgen said.

The boys had been supervised at the pool. Dylan's father, Nigel Flatman, had been swimming with them for more than 1½ hours before he got out to watch from the side. He missed Luke struggling in the water.

Luke said he planned to return to the water with his pals when the football season ended in about six months.

Selwyn District Council aquatic facilities manager Kathy Moore said she was delighted rescue procedures had worked and that Luke had recovered so quickly.

"All the things that should be done were done, and done really well. You cannot fault the lifeguards in what they did."

- © Fairfax NZ News