A holiday outing at a Tucson resort swimming pool nearly turned tragic on Memorial Day, but quick thinking by one man saved a child’s life. A two-year old boy was discovered face down in the pool at the Westin La Paloma Resort, but he’s alright thanks to the quick and unselfish action of a Tucson chiropractor.

Dr. Jesus Bernal was spending a relaxing afternoon at the resort’s pool, but shortly after 5 p.m. it became anything but relaxing. Every Tuesday afternoon, Dr. Bernal shares tips with people about different healthcare treatments on a local Spanish radio station, but this week’s show was different. “This week, we obviously talked about water safety,” he says. “How to prevent accidents in the sun or in the swimming pool.”

Anne-Marie Braswell of the Rural Metro Fire Department describes what happened at about 5:15 p.m. on Memorial Day. “There was a little guy, about two years old, a little toddler who was found in a pool at La Paloma,” she says.

Bernal says, “I saw that people were handing each other this little baby – blue, completely blue, and unconscious,” he says. That’s when the chiropractor stepped in to help, and put his CPR certification to work. “I kept doing compressions, I turned him over, did some back thrusts, a bunch of water spewed out, again that kind of motivated me to keep going,” he says. “I did more compressions and at that point the baby had a pulse.”

Braswell says, “I think that individual (Bernal) is an angel. I mean, that individual was there at the right time, right place.” But accidents at the pool can happen in an instant, which is why Braswell says parents should always have a lookout when children are near water.

“That’s got to be an individual that’s not going to partake in any of the partying, drinking of alcoholic beverages, eating, talking that’s happening around the pool,” she says. People should also have barriers to keep neighborhood children out of a backyard pool.

Regarding the rescue, Bernal says, “I have to be humble, and I insist it wasn’t me. If I’m a hero, well thank you, and I’m very grateful to be called that. I’m just happy the little boy’s OK, really.” The child was rushed to a hospital but was released the next day, and is apparently doing fine. His family is from New Mexico.