Teen saves five-year-old from surf
Categories: Kids 5-7, Teens & tweens, 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.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
sexyteenass 5-20-2008 @ 6:54PM
see...not all teens are horrible...
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Tina 5-24-2008 @ 12:29PM
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.
korr77 5-24-2008 @ 12:44PM
No, but your username is.
baileyybug07 5-24-2008 @ 7:12AM
Woot-woot go John; I wonder if he's cute xD
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Lois 5-24-2008 @ 7:19AM
What! all he got was a free dinner, him & his family should of received a free cruise...his bravery says it all!!!!
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MARYANNE 5-24-2008 @ 10:58AM
my feelings exactly lois - they really should get a free cruise.
congrats to the hero.
Caralee 5-24-2008 @ 12:24PM
My first thoughts, too!
sandy 5-24-2008 @ 7:27AM
Lois
Excellent idea!
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jenesis227 5-24-2008 @ 7:31AM
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.
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nah921 5-24-2008 @ 12:55PM
Amen! I agree completely.
Tonya 5-24-2008 @ 7:42AM
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...
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Tonya 5-24-2008 @ 7:53AM
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
Jimmy 5-24-2008 @ 8:29AM
Well said. I enjoyrd your post. Jimmy
Rachel 5-24-2008 @ 12:10PM
Very well said.
alice 5-24-2008 @ 8:03AM
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
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Marie 5-24-2008 @ 8:10AM
Hey a story with a happy ending for once!
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kathleen 5-24-2008 @ 8:24AM
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.
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Kay 5-24-2008 @ 12:11PM
Amen! Although the teen may even be embarassed by recognition of a heroic action, he certainly deserves more than a "special dinner."
LvTerrY 5-24-2008 @ 3:08PM
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.
Tina 5-24-2008 @ 6:27PM
Why should the cruise line have to reward the young man? It's nice that they acknowledged his bravery, but it wasn't like they were responsible for the fact that the boy almost drowned. People are acting like one of the crew was holding his head under water.