Thailand’s security camera footage is a warning to everyone about how important it is to keep kids safe around pools. It is also a great story about a little girl who is brave and takes care of her little sister.
Kana Kanuengnit, who is 3 years old, and Kaning, who is 2 years old, were playing around their family’s pool in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on Friday, April 1. Their mother was inside the house, so their father, Apisit, who is 29 years old, was watching the kids.
“I was sweeping near the pool and my wife was cooking in the kitchen behind the house,” he said according to Yahoo. “We weren’t planning for any pool activities so I didn’t notice what was happening. But after a moment of me sweeping with my back to the pool, my younger daughter fell into the pool.”
Kaning fell into the 4-foot-deep pool and struggled immediately to keep her head above water. Kana, her older sister, realized she was in danger and immediately called out to her father, who was still sweeping near some patio furniture with his back turned.
Kaning was in the pool, so the girl screamed to her father and sprang into action.
“I didn’t know what to do, I forgot to think about my phone and things in my pocket. I threw it all and just jumped in the pool,” Apisit said. The father was fast on his feet and pulled his daughter out of the pool before she sank to the bottom. We’re pretty sure the father could care less about his phone knowing that his daughter is safe.
Apisit hopes that the harrowing video serves as a warning for parents everywhere. “I think this is a great example to remind people that you cannot take your eyes off even for a split second when there are children and water,” he said.
“I want to stress this to parents with small kids and a pool to put up a barrier around the pool if not, they should always be careful,” he added.
Three rules every parent should follow:
1. Never leave a child in or near water unattended.
2. Make sure there are barriers around your pool or spa to prevent unsupervised children from getting into the water.
3. Learn how to perform CPR on children and adults.