Good Samaritan works with dispatcher to try to save lives

911 call released in lake tragedy that took lives of 2 children

A woman who happened to be near the scene of a tragic accident on Lake Hartwell that took the life of a 9-year-old and an infant called 911 and worked calmly along with an emergency operator in an attempt to save lives.

A boat that was carrying seven adults and five children overturned and sank on Labor Day weekend on the lake. A 9-year-old boy and a 5-month-old baby died in the accident. The woman who was operating the boat has since been charged. (Full Story)

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On Monday, officials released a recording of the 911 call made moments after the boat overturned.

The woman who called said she didn't know the people involved in the accident, she was just at a nearby house when she heard someone screaming, "Where's my baby?"

The woman, who tried to remain calm and was soft-spoken throughout the call, spoke to a dispatcher whose first question was, "Is anybody still in the water?"

The woman answered, "There are people in the water. It's too dark too see. I don't know them. People are giving them life jackets. People are trying to help them. There are 9 or 10 people. The boat is sinking quick."

She told the emergency operator that the boat was in the middle of the cove, about a baseball-field length from the shore. She then asks people at the scene about the missing children, and repeats to the operator that the children are 9 years old and five months old.

The woman says at one point she was having a hard time hearing the dispatcher because "they are all screaming,"

A moment later, the woman said, "They found one. He is not breathing."

After she confirms to the dispatcher that it is the 9-year-old, the operator says she's going to help with CPR and she gives specific instructions on what to do.

With the phone on speaker, the dispatcher counts from one to 100 three times to help track chest compressions done on the boy. In between each time she asks if the boy is breathing, but each time the answer is no.

The dispatcher tells those at the scene to keep doing CPR until EMS arrives.

The emergency operator says again to the caller, "I just want you to know you are doing a

really good job."

The caller says, "Medics are running this way … Oh God, Oh God. Sorry. There's just so many kids … I can't hear you. Some lady is going crazy."

The dispatcher asks, "Are they flagging somebody down?

As, first responders reach the scene, the caller says, "They are still missing a 5-month-old baby."

The dispatcher tells her again she did a really good job. She thanks the dispatcher and the call ends.

The 9-year-old, Christian Henderson, was airlifted from the scene, but he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Nearly four hours later, an emergency dive team found the body of 5-month-old Timothy Dragoo.

Dawn Thompson, 52, of Easley, is charged with DUI with a water device resulting in death.

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