Connor's Law adds protection in a near drowning

GAMBRILLS, Md. - Watchful eyes at the Waugh Chapel Swim Club in Gambrills saved a life.  A relaxing day at the pool turned into one Amy Davis will not forget.  An eight-year-old boy was pulled from the deep end.

"There was a loud scream and the lifeguard, I saw him rescuing a little boy and putting him up on the pool deck and immediately did CPR and everybody started running," said Davis.    

A lifeguard named Mark is the hero.  He did CPR and had him breathing and conscious before he was flown to Johns Hopkins Hospital.  A five year old boy named Connor, who left us in 2006, provided the back up plan.

"Connor was watching over that little boy yesterday and that mother just got a great gift.  Her son's alive," said Debbie Freed, Connor’s mom.    

Connor's parents, Debbie and Tom Freed, started the Connor Cares Foundation after their son drowned at Crofton Country Club, just five miles away from the near drowning on Saturday.  

A defibrillator was on site, but it wasn't used on Connor.  A law passed in Anne Arundel County earlier this month mandates every pool have an AED machine.

"If you use it within the first five minutes, along with CPR, you have a 90 percent survival rate," said Debbie Freed.

Freed grew up at Waugh Chapel Swim Club, so she donated an AED three years ago.  On Saturday, the boy came to life with CPR, but the machine was added protection.

"They did their job here.  The layers of protection worked and that's why we're doing this," said Tom Freed.    

The president of the swim club got a reality check.

"The AED was an incredible back up in the event that he was not able to be resuscitated by CPR," said Marian Newell.    

Connor's parents believe he played a role on Saturday.  One life is gone, but another is saved by a skilled lifeguard and a family that hasn't drowned in their grief.

"We had the hand of Connor reaching down and helping this little boy.  The family is now going to have the school year to plan instead of planning a funeral," said Tom Freed.     

The victim's name has not been released.  He was not a member of the swim club; he was visiting with a birthday party. 

Connor's Law mandating defibrillators at public pools is being considered in Queen Anne's County and Montgomery County.  The goal is to take it nationwide.