CHARLOTTE COUNTY, FL — 

One fortunate toddler may have his 8 year old cousin to thank for being alive today. Owen DeMaio, just 8 years old, is being called a hero after rescuing his three year old cousin, Benjamin, from the pool.

Benjamin slipped into the water during a family gathering on Easter Sunday. Within moments, he was fighting for his life. Showing no hesitation, Owen burst into action, diving into the pool and lifting his cousin above his head until help arrived.

Owen’s father, Michael, says he couldn’t be more proud of his brave son.

“To see your son do something that selfless. I can’t explain it. It’s a wonderful feeling,” he said.

News of the story reached Paul DeMello, founder of Just Against Children Drowning (JACD) and “Chief Giving Officer” of Life Saver Pool Fence Systems, Inc., a manufacturer of mesh pool safety fencing. In addition to selling and installing removable pool fences around the world, Life Saver donates pool fences to families of children who experience fatal and non-fatal drowning incidents through their Save a Life Program.

DeMello was driven to start JACD and connect with Life Saver’s pool fence donation program after the tragic drowning of both his own twin boys in a swimming pool. Now, he promotes pool safety through education, talks, fundraisers, and working with Life Saver’s Save a Life Program as their “Chief Giving Officer,” finding qualified recipients to receive donated pool fences.

Inspired by the story of Owen bravely rescuing his cousin, DeMello contacted the family and arranged for Life Saver to donate a free pool fence. The pool fence installation will be donated by Fabri Tech, Inc., a Life Saver Pool Fence dealer and screen enclosure company based in Fort Myers.

The Life Saver Pool Fence will be installed Wednesday, April 17th, 2013, around the same pool that Owen saved Benjamin.

“I’m so grateful,” DeMello said. “I am so grateful that my own tragedy can be turned into something so positive, something that might save another child from drowning. This is a great thing Life Saver is doing. I’m proud to be a part of it.”

Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children under five years old in the United States.

For more information on pool safety or Life Saver Pool Fence, visit: http://www.poolfence.com

To learn about Paul DeMello’s memorial foundation, Just Against Children Drowning, visit their Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/justagainst.childrendrowning.