A 9-Year-Old Saved Himself at Sea by Remembering One Swimming Lesson

A family vacation on the Turkish Riviera nearly ended in tragedy when Walter Keeler, a 9-year-old British boy, was left alone in open water after a tour boat mistakenly sailed away while he and dozens of other passengers were still swimming. For about 15 terrifying minutes, his parents watched helplessly as their son drifted farther from the boat, unable to reach him.

But instead of panicking, Walter relied on a lifesaving skill he had learned during swimming lessons, and it may have saved his life.

According to his father, Charles, the sea had been calm at the first two swimming stops, so there was little concern when Walter jumped into the water wearing a snorkel. Charles planned to join him moments later, but before he could, the boat's engine suddenly started, and it began pulling away, even though Walter and about 20 other passengers were still in the water.

Charles said the crew prevented additional passengers from jumping into the sea once the boat was moving.

"I looked at my son in desperation," he told Britain's Daily Mail. "I realized that if he went under, I wouldn't be able to reach him. The boat was already far away, the sea had become rough, and I knew that if I jumped in and something went wrong, I simply wouldn't be able to save him."

Walter's mother, Elaine, said she never took her eyes off her son as waves repeatedly rose over him.

The Swimming Lesson He Never Forgot

Walter later explained that after the initial shock of seeing the boat sail away, he remembered one of the most important lessons from his swim program.

"Instead of fighting the waves, turn onto your back and float."

That is exactly what he did.

"I was very scared, but I remembered they taught us not to panic," Walter said. "I turned onto my back to conserve energy and kept breathing calmly."

He also lost his snorkel mask during the ordeal, and several large waves completely submerged him. Even so, he continued applying the techniques he had learned.

According to his mother, another girl in the water also struggled with the rough conditions and went underwater several times before a crew member eventually entered the sea carrying a life ring to rescue her.

The family said no additional flotation devices were given to the remaining swimmers during the incident.

Following the ordeal, the Royal Life Saving Society UK awarded Walter a special certificate recognizing his composure and ability to save himself in open-water conditions.

The "Float to Live" Method

The "Float to Live" technique is widely recommended by water safety experts for people who find themselves in difficulty in open water. Its basic principles are simple:

• Don't panic.
• Roll onto your back.
• Spread your arms and legs.
• Breathe slowly and steadily.
• Conserve your energy until help arrives or until it is safe to swim toward shore or a rescuer.

According to water rescue experts, trying to fight strong waves is often what leads to exhaustion and, in many cases, drowning. Remaining calm and floating can dramatically increase a person's chances of survival until help arrives.