Hot on HuffPost Parents:
Babble.com: 8 Parenting Lessons To Learn From 'Arrested Development'
Our Favorite Tweets From Parents This Week
Teen saves five-year-old from surf
Filed under: Big Kids, Teens, Holidays, In The News
John Palencar is but sixteen years old, and yet he has already experienced much. He's taken a cruise with his family to the Bahamas, spent a day at the beach in Nassau, and saved a drowning five-year-old's life. Palencar was hanging out with other tourists from the cruise ship at Cabbage Beach when he watched a wave carry the younger boy out to sea.Leonardo Purchia had been playing in the surf with his older brother when the wave grabbed him. His parents tried to save him, but were nearly caught as well. Palencar saw what was happening and joined in the rescue. He was the first to reach Purchia and managed to keep the boy's head above water until someone else could take over and help him back to shore.
Palencar made it back to shore as well, where he threw up seawater and passed out. He ended up in the hospital for a day with pneumonia. The younger boy spent four days in the hospital as well, also with pneumonia. Back on the cruise ship, Palencar was honored by the ship's officers and he and his family were treated to a special dinner.
I'm very glad to hear that little Leonardo Purchia is okay and that John Palencar was there to help save him. Kudos to Palencar, and many thanks.
Your<span>Voice</span>
Ask Us Anything About Parenting
TheTalkies:RelatedVideos
-
Teens Killed After Leading Police On High Speed Chase
A 13-year-old driver and his 15-year old friend were killed in a crash after leading officers on a high-speed chase through Stockton, according to CHP.
Friends and family of the driver and passenger saw a different side of the teens. The 13-year-old has been identified by family as Luigi Longoria. His mother, Maria Lopez, says she will remember her son for his sense of humor.
The passenger's first name is Martel, but FOX40 is unsure about the spelling of his last name.
-
Hope for Teen With Rare Illness
Progeria is an extremely rare disease that afflicts about 200 kids in the world. But there's some hope for one teen who's participating in a new drug trial.
The disease causes rapid aging, a decrease in bone and muscle density, and increases the risk of stroke and heart attack in the children who are born with it.
The average age of death for these children is 13 years old. This boy is now 16 year old.
-
Teen Shot And Killed Through Kitchen Window
Police in Calumet City, with help from South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, are searching for the suspect in the murder of a teenage girl.
15-year-old girl Ashaya Miller was at her aunt's place in Calumet City last night when a man ran through this gangway and wildly, blindly opened fire through the kitchen window.
The teen was hit twice in the back and died two hours later. A 19-year-old male cousin standing near her was shot in the elbow.
-
Shocking Photo Of Drunk, Naked Girl In Teen Rape Trial
A police captain testified Tuesday about finding two photos of a nude girl on a cell phone belonging to a 17-year-old boy accused of rape along with another teen in Steubenville, Ohio.
The testimony by Capt. Joel Walker came amid largely technical testimony about cell phone records in a case that focuses heavily on texts and cell phone images surrounding the alleged sexual abuse of a drunken 16-year-old girl.
SitesWeLove
- Site Map
- |
- Staff
- |
- Terms of Service
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Trademarks
- |
- Advertise With Us
- |
- About Our Ads
- |
- AOL Downloads
- |
- Contact Us
- |
© Copyright 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aol Family
ReaderComments (Page 1 of 4)
5-20-2008 @ 6:54PM
sexyteenass said...see...not all teens are horrible...
Reply
5-24-2008 @ 12:29PM
Tina said...No one said all teens are horrible. I think it's a time in life when it's not always easy to think about others instead of yourself, but it's certainly not impossible to do so, and most of the teens I know (I have three myself, which equals tons of teens in and out of here all the time!) are just incredible people with giving and loving hearts. I'd be willing to bet that most of them would do just what this young man did when a life was at stake. To make the comment you did makes me think you may have a bit of a chip on your shoulder, and you may lash out at me for this, but your name isn't exactly helping you make your point.
5-24-2008 @ 12:44PM
korr77 said...No, but your username is.
5-24-2008 @ 7:12AM
baileyybug07 said...Woot-woot go John; I wonder if he's cute xD
Reply
5-24-2008 @ 7:19AM
Lois said...What! all he got was a free dinner, him & his family should of received a free cruise...his bravery says it all!!!!
Reply
5-24-2008 @ 10:58AM
MARYANNE said...my feelings exactly lois - they really should get a free cruise.
congrats to the hero.
5-24-2008 @ 12:24PM
Caralee said...My first thoughts, too!
5-24-2008 @ 7:27AM
sandy said...Lois
Excellent idea!
Reply
5-24-2008 @ 7:31AM
jenesis227 said...People do good things because it's who they are and what they're about. Good samaritans never expect to be honored and never expect anything in return. I suppose it's why we don't see more 'acts of kindness' in our world - most people would only help if they got something materialistic out of it. Sad.
Reply
5-24-2008 @ 12:55PM
nah921 said...Amen! I agree completely.
5-24-2008 @ 7:53AM
Tonya said...It's wonderful that this young fellow acted quickly and honorably. Don't we all try to raise our kids to do what is right in a pinch? I try to teach mine that making split second decisions in life is something that we have to be prepared to do so that when it has to happen they are better prepared to do so.
As for the dinner and being honored by the ships officer's, as well as the positive publicity, I think the young man received appropriate acknowledgement.
If every cruise line were to offer a free cruise to any person who did something morally correct and brave, imagine all the not so moral people who would then go around faking heroism in order to obtain a free ride. Not to mention all the real folk who have at some time or other assisted someone by doing the Heimlich or calling a doctor right in the nick of time. People's lives need saving in so many situations, and I'd just like to think that doing so is human nature.
What's remarkable about this is that a youngster did what many grown-ups might not have. Kudo's to him. He is rewarded in that his character has been duly noted and more so in the knowledge that a younger boy will live to see another day...
Reply
5-24-2008 @ 8:29AM
Jimmy said...Well said. I enjoyrd your post. Jimmy
5-24-2008 @ 12:10PM
Rachel said...Very well said.
5-24-2008 @ 7:42AM
Tonya said...It's wonderful that this young fellow acted quickly and honorably. Don't we all try to raise our kids to do what is right in a pinch? I try to teach mine that making split second decisions in life is something that we have to be prepared to do so that when it has to happen they are better prepared to do so.
As for the dinner and being honored by the ships officer's, as well as the positive publicity, I think the young man received appropriate acknowledgement.
If every cruise line were to offer a free cruise to any person who did something morally correct and brave, imagine all the not so moral people who would then go around faking heroism in order to obtain a free ride. Not to mention all the real folk who have at some time or other assisted someone by doing the Heimlich or calling a doctor right in the nick of time. People's lives need saving in so many situations, and I'd just like to think that doing so is human nature.
What's remarkable about this is that a youngster did what many grown-ups might not have. Kudo's to him. He is rewarded in that his character has been duly noted and more so in the knowledge that a younger boy will live to see another day...
Reply
5-24-2008 @ 8:03AM
alice said...the bible says there is no greater sacrafice than laying down your life for another and he almost did ,i think that was great for a sixteen yr.old or anyone else may God bless him
Reply
5-24-2008 @ 8:24AM
Marie said...Hey a story with a happy ending for once!
Reply
5-24-2008 @ 8:10AM
Marie said...Hey a story with a happy ending for once!
Reply
5-24-2008 @ 8:24AM
kathleen said...what is the name of that cruise line? if all they can do is give the kid a dinner, i don't need to sail with them again.
Reply
5-24-2008 @ 12:11PM
Kay said...Amen! Although the teen may even be embarassed by recognition of a heroic action, he certainly deserves more than a "special dinner."
5-24-2008 @ 3:08PM
LvTerrY said...Kathleen ..
You’ve got to be a Liberal. i.e., you meet the two conditions (both are necessary, neither is sufficient by itself.): 1.You provide expert commentary on what other people do; and 2.You provide expert advice on how to spend other people’s money.