Man chooses to save wife as son drowns

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Associated Press

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - As his wife floundered screaming for help in murky river water, a frantic New Zealand man was forced to abandon a bid to rescue his teenage son to save his partner from drowning, he said Monday.

Stacy Horton saved his wife, Vanessa, 35, as their son Silva, 13, drowned in the Whanganui River on North Island after her car plunged into the river late Saturday.

Horton said he arrived at the crash scene less than two minutes after the accident to hear his wife screaming in the darkness and to see his son's friend and the family dog

scrambling up the bank. His son Silva was trapped inside the submerged station wagon.

"I tried to get down and get him but I couldn't - it was just too deep. And Vanessa was going under," Horton told the Dominion Post newspaper.

"Instead of going down and risking my life as well as my wife and son's, I chose to take V(anessa) back and sat on the shore praying. It was all I could do," a distraught Horton said.

Police and fire officers also were unable to rescue the boy.

Mid-Central police spokeswoman

Kim Perks said Monday it was a very tough call for Horton. "I would certainly not have wanted to be in his shoes."

Divers recovered the body on Sunday.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/200...rescue1130.html

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

this reminds me of that scene from i, robot

[The_Dude 1,142]

wow, what an awful decision to have to make and live with.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

wow, what an awful decision to have to make and live with.

Makes me ill just thinking about it.

[rebeccajo 14]

He should have saved the boy.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

He did what he could. Perhaps he thought the teen was stronger and able to put more force into rescuing himself. I don't know. I just hope we don't get people bashing this man for not having 4 arms.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

He should have saved the boy.

not if he didn't think he could.

the movie i, robot addressed this dilemma well.

[rebeccajo 14]

He should have saved the boy.

not if he didn't think he could.

the movie i, robot addressed this dilemma well.

Haven't seen it.

I just know that I'd want someone to save Zachary over me. I think most moms would feel the same.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

He should have saved the boy.

not if he didn't think he could.

the movie i, robot addressed this dilemma well.

Haven't seen it.

Watch it, it's awesome. It has robots!

[The_Dude 1,142]

He should have saved the boy.

not if he didn't think he could.

the movie i, robot addressed this dilemma well.

Haven't seen it.

I just know that I'd want someone to save Zachary over me. I think most moms would feel the same.

Having been a lifeguard for 8 years, you are told to save those that you can first, it is better to save one and one die than 3 people die attempting the impossible.

[Ban Hammer 14,665]

He should have saved the boy.

not if he didn't think he could.

the movie i, robot addressed this dilemma well.

Haven't seen it.

I just know that I'd want someone to save Zachary over me. I think most moms would feel the same.

Having been a lifeguard for 8 years, you are told to save those that you can first, it is better to save one and one die than 3 people die attempting the impossible.

best answer

i would never want to be in that situation this guy was in.

[DEDixon 39]

all i have to say it that the wife is lucky the family dog wasn't there....

[Peikko 1,575]

Horrible, how very sad for all.

[*julez* 124]

He should have saved the boy.

We weren't there to know what conditions the man faced, so it's unfair to say how he should have handled the situation. I'm sure he didn't make the decision lightly.

[rebeccajo 14]

He should have saved the boy.

We weren't there to know what conditions the man faced, so it's unfair to say how he should have handled the situation. I'm sure he didn't make the decision lightly.

I'm not 'judging' the man. Just saying how I feel as a Mother.