JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 A Jacksonville mother is calling her 2-year-old son a miracle after he survived a near-drowning in a pond on his family\u2019s property \u2014 an ordeal she says unfolded in less than 10 minutes during what began as a normal day at home.<\/p>\n
Katie Reddish said her son, Hoke, was playing in the den with his toy cars earlier this month, something he does every day. She said she had seen and heard him just minutes earlier.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe went down there and was just, you know, playing whatever,\u201d Reddish explained. \u201cI could hear him, I saw him, had eyes on him just a few minutes prior.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reddish said Hoke recently hit a growth spurt and, for the first time, managed to open a door at the end of the house. She said he had never tried to leave the home before.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor whatever reason, I felt something was off,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Reddish sent her daughter to check the door. It stood wide open.<\/p>\n
The family immediately began searching their property. Reddish said she initially thought Hoke might have followed the family dogs toward the road. <\/p>\n
As she looked ahead, she heard her 9-year-old son scream from near the pond behind their home.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis sisters have now joined him,\u201d she described. \u201cThey\u2019re running towards me, screaming, trying to get it out, like it\u2019s almost hard for them to say that Hoke is in the pond.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reddish ran to the water and dove in. She said the pond typically has a large shallow area, but lower water levels caused a sudden drop-off. Hoke had floated into deeper water and was unconscious.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe wasn\u2019t even blinking,\u201d she said. \u201cThere was nothing. It was very scary.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reddish pulled her son toward shore but struggled to lift him out. Her 11-year-old daughter grabbed Hoke\u2019s arms and helped pull him onto land. Reddish immediately began CPR while her children called 911.<\/p>\n
Reddish said she relied on CPR training she had years earlier, doing compressions and rescue breaths while water came out of her son\u2019s mouth. Her brother-in-law soon took over compressions so she could speak with the dispatcher.<\/p>\n
An off-duty officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff\u2019s Office heard the call and responded, finding a pulse. Crews from the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department arrived shortly after and took over care.<\/p>\n
RELATED: Parents grateful after JFRD helps save 2-year-old who nearly drowned<\/a><\/p>\n