Dramatic video shows Wagoner County deputy reviving child after drowning

By John Dobberstein, Editor

The Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office has released a video that shows a Wagoner County sheriff’s deputy reviving a juvenile after a drowning.

Sheriff’s deputy Michael King was dispatched June 18 at 6:46 p.m. to the Wahoo Bay Campground for a possible drowning, arriving within 2 minutes of the initial call, the sheriff’s office said in a social media post.

The deputies were the first to arrive on scene and observed individuals in the campground pointing both deputies to the far east end of the campground. When King arrived at the scene he saw 4 people standing at the edge of the water with a small child laying on their back. The child was still halfway in the water along with mother and stepfather.

King arrived first and ran down to the water to assist the child, where he was told the child had been unconscious for 5 minutes.

King immediately rolled the child on his side, checked the mouth for any obstructions and started back pats. The child started to spit up fluids and vomit almost immediately. He continued back pats and with every strike to the child’s back they would spit up more water. He moved the child out of the water and continued back pats until the child took a deep breath.

Shortly after, King moved the child up to the roadway where first responders would meet them. Okay Fire Department and Wagoner EMS arrived approximately 8 minutes after King arrived on scene and started providing medical attention to the child.

Wagoner County deputies and Okay firefighters proceeded to Sequoyah Bay State Park to set up a landing zone for Tulsa Life Flight. The child was transported by Life Flight to a Tulsa hospital and is recovering from injuries. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol arrived a short time later and took over the investigation. Wagoner County Sheriff’s deputies Lambert and Hull also responded to aid at the scene.

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“I am extremely proud of my deputies’ actions and response to this incident. The deputies were on scene very quickly and started medical attention almost immediately,” Wagoner County Sheriff Chris Elliott said.

“The Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office is beyond grateful that the fast response by all agencies resulted in the life of a young child being saved from a drowning.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family for a speedy recovery of the child.”