Mom issues warning after 10-year-old son collapses after playing in the ocean

A day at the beach is often the perfect way to escape the oppressive summer heat, but as one mother from Massachusetts discovered, the shoreline comes with its own unique set of risks. Now, she wants to warn others about the dangers that might not be immediately obvious.

Heather Cassini is still “shaking” from an incident that occurred over a week ago. On July 4th, while enjoying a day at Hampton Beach in New Hampshire with her 10-year-old son, Declan, Cassini experienced a terrifying moment.

At first, everything seemed normal. Declan had been playing in the ocean, and it was a hot day. But then, Declan suddenly told his mom that he didn’t feel well. Cassini wasn’t overly concerned at first, thinking that perhaps the heat or the ocean waves had simply been too much after breakfast. In a now-viral Facebook post, she explained, “I thought the breakfast was just too much for the waves and he just needed to lay down.”

However, things quickly took a turn for the worse. As they began to head back so Declan could rest, he became disoriented and stumbled into a nearby sunbather. He managed to get back on his feet, only to collapse again. Cassini, who is pregnant, struggled to help him. “I’m trying desperately to pick him up because I’m pregnant,” she told Today.com. Declan was vomiting, slipping in and out of consciousness, and his skin had turned pale.

Fortunately, a group of women nearby noticed the situation and sprang into action. Paramedics arrived quickly, working to keep Declan warm and monitor his vitals. “May God bless everyone in our vicinity,” Cassini said. “There were so many nurses.”

After what felt like an eternity, Declan started to regain consciousness and was able to talk again. The paramedics got him to the car, and they waited for him to recover fully. It was then that they learned Declan had developed hypothermia due to the 52-degree ocean water.

Cassini was shocked. “I had no idea that this could happen,” she said. “I never thought about cold shock; you think about sunburns and dehydration and all the things that can happen in the water.”

Now, after Declan’s miraculous recovery, Cassini is on a mission to raise awareness about the risk of hypothermia, even on hot summer days. “Just a heads up to parents who have children who adore the water and don’t feel chilly,” she warned. “It doesn’t necessarily follow that they can handle it just because they can.”

The experience has been an eye-opener for Cassini, who never imagined that hypothermia could occur on a sweltering summer day. Her message serves as a crucial reminder not just for parents but for everyone: even in the heat of summer, cold water can be dangerous.