Woman rescues 2-year-old boy from Breakheart lake

SAUGUS – A Wakefield woman’s quick thinking saved a 2-year-old boy from drowning Wednesday at Pearce Lake in Breakheart Reservation, firefighters said.Kelli Parece was enjoying the hot day with her children when she noticed the toddler go under shortly before 4 p.m.”For a millisecond, I thought he could swim. Then I realized he couldn’t and I just grabbed him,” Parece said. “He was definitely sputtering. He was in distress.”Lifeguard Dave Foreman, of Melrose, quickly jumped into action and assisted bringing the child to shore. Though the child was coughing a bit, Foreman realized he had a pulse and was breathing.Parece said her motherly instincts took over when she realized the young child was struggling.”You go into that mode,” she said.She was extremely relieved when she realized he was okay.”I kissed his little hand,” Parece said. “I’m glad he’s fine.”The Saugus Fire Department was called for assistance anyway during the chaotic scene. An initial report was given that the child was in cardiac arrest and undergoing CPR, but those reports turned out to be misguided.”It was a good intent call,” firefighter Billy Cross said.By the time firefighters arrived they realized their services weren’t needed. After the child was determined to be okay, he was laughing with his rescuers and continued swimming – this time under the watchful eye of his mother.The family declined to comment on the incident.”It’s a pretty good story,” Cross said. “The kid was smiling and high-fiving everyone.”Cross said Wednesday’s incident highlights the reasons why Saugus firefighters extensively train for rescues on the grounds of Breakheart.Firefighters rescued a hiker Monday after he suffered a head injury when he fell a half-mile into the woods. On June 9, 16-year-old Shanequa McKennzie of Lynn drowned in the same area where the 2-year-old boy was rescued Wednesday.The lifeguards took part in a large-scale mock rescue drill on July 8 in response to the drowning and to prevent tragedies from happening again.”The chiefs are doing the right thing by having us train,” Cross said.He added that most firefighters have children and when they are responding to a call like Wednesday’s they get “revved up.””Your mind’s racing,” Cross said.Parece said she didn’t want to blame the mother for what happened to the child because the incident shows “how fast a 2-year-old can run away.””The biggest message from this is how fast it can happen,” she said. “You have to watch those babies near water.”