Larry Bankston Jr. and Steven Hall.
When a 13-year-old was lying at the bottom of the Samuell Grand Park Pool this week Steven Hall didn’t hesitate to act.
According to a Facebook post by Dallas Police Officer Larry Bankston Jr., Hall immediately jumped into the pool to rescue the girl. He struggled while trying to get her above water but finally managed to pull her out. She was given CPR and resuscitated.
Bankston said he plans to recommend Hall for a civilian accommodation.
“The girl is doing ok and he most definitely saved her life and was very humble when I said ‘You are a hero, the world needs to know,’ “ Bankston said in his July 4 post.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the second leading cause of death in children under the age of 14. Most children were seen by adults within minutes of plunging into the water. In Texas, 75 children died in 2015 from drowning incidents, including nine in Dallas County, according to DFW Child. To combat this growing problem, the Dallas YMCA created the Urban Swim Academy to bring swim lessons to children who may not be able to afford it.
