Boy With Down's Syndrome Hailed A Hero After He Rescues Two Drowning Girls

Aug 15, 2018 by apost team

Many people think of Down's syndrome as a debilitating illness. A young man proves that someone with the disorder can still save lives.

Surfing and water sports are some of the most exhilarating activities that a person can do on vacation. Children love to play in the water, and they often do whenever they're at the beach. The problem is that the water can sometimes be unpredictable. A vicious wave can pop up in a matter of seconds and pull a young person into its heart.

That's what happened not too long ago when it 10-year-old girl went swimming at the beach in Italy. They were at Sabaudia Beach, and the mother probably turned her head for only a Split Second.

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Just that fast, a violent current came in and grabbed her daughter. The 10-year-old screamed as she continued to lose control. The mother did not see this occurring, but another bystander did. The boy's name was Catoia, and he was a teenager who had been swimming since he was three years old. Catoia had some other remarkable attributes.

He had won medals in the Special Olympics in the past. You see, Catoia suffers from Down's syndrome, but it does not affect his ability to help someone who is in need. He acted out of bravery and set out to save this young girl from drowning.

The young girl who got swept up in the waves wasn't the only one. There was a 14-year-old girl who was also pulled in by the violent current. Catoia and his father heard the girls scream as they struggled to stay above the water. It's usually not advisable for bystanders to get involved in situations like that.

However, the rescue team had not yet taken action, and Catoia knew how to swim, so he just went for it. He and his father jumped into the water and brought them back to shore safely.

You would think that those events would constitute a heroic retrieval or heroic Act. To the contrary, the 10-year-old girl's mother showed no appreciation for what this young man and his father did. She left no commentary about the incident. She gave no thank yous. Instead, she pretty much snatched her daughter up and left the scene, snubbing the young man who saved her life.

We don't know whether this was from embarrassment because she never noticed that her daughter had been swept away. She could have had negative feelings about the young man's disability. We just don't know. All we know is that she robbed the young man of appropriate appreciation.

Italy's Prime Minister made sure that Catoia got some recognition for what he did. He announced the all of it in Italy that it should be proud of this young man. The sports minister presented him with a commemorative plate and a medal and acknowledged him as a solidarity champion of Italy. 

You can watch the response to his recognition in the video. He handled himself like a true hero despite the original response that he received. Make sure that you gift your family and friends with this heartwarming rescue story.