CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS — A seven-year-old boy, who was pulled from the waters from Padre Balli Park Beach unconscious and later revived, will meet his heroes who played a big part in saving his life.
The incident happened back on Friday, July 19, 2019.
Tiffany and David Chrisner and their son Damien were on vacation and visiting the beach when their son decided to play with two boys. When they saw the two boys and not their son, panic started to set in.
Over 150 yards away, Damien's father could see people gathering in a circle around someone lying on the beach. As Chrisner approached, he recognized his son's feet in the sand.
After running to the crowd, Chrisner ran into David Ochoa, an international missionary who rescues children from human trafficking, already giving Damien CPR. Chrisner, who served in the US Air Force as a security forces flight chief, also went into first responder mode.
Both men provided CPR until EMS crews arrived.
Damien was missing for more than ten minutes and was found floating face down in the water when Ochoa and his son pulled him onto the beach. "Mr. Ochoa was our angel; we were blessed to have him at the right place at the right time, and we will forever be grateful," said Tiffany.
Paramedics with the Corpus Christi Fire Department arrived and took the Damien and his father to the Corpus Christi Medical Center.
When the unconscious boy arrived, Corpus Christi Medical Center emergency room doctors and nurses jumped into action and provided the care Damien needed at that moment during the crisis. Chrisner noted, "The staff was extremely supportive and comforting. A nurse named Tabetha stayed by our side to ensure we were doing well throughout the crisis."
Doctors said once Damien stabilized, he was transported to another local children's hospital where he remained in a coma for two days.
On the second day, Damien woke up from his coma.
Damien's parents said he has since made a full recovery and is a healthy, happy seven-year-old boy who enjoys time with his family. Damien said, "We cannot let the ocean win, dad. Let's go back to the beach again!"
On Friday, Damien will meet the rest of the medical experts that saved his life. They will meet on Damien's birthday.
