Patrons, lifeguards credited in rescue from Roslindale pool

(Evan Richman/Globe Staff)

Jhonneris Mendez, 17, and Alex Jesus, 13, were hoping for the recovery of the boy pulled from the pool -- and happy that they could help.

By John R. Ellement and James Vaznis, Globe Staff

A 12-year-old boy is being treated at the hospital today after being rescued from a Roslindale pool, Boston Police said.

The incident occurred about 3:11 p.m. at Flaherty Pool at the Roslindale Community Center on Florence Street, said Officer Eddy Chrispin, a police spokesman. The boy was taken to Children's Hospital.

"The child is awake, talking and alert with family ... and we wish him a speedy recovery," Daphne Griffin, executive director of the Boston Centers for Youth and Families, said in a statement this evening.

"We are very thankful for our trained lifeguards at the Flaherty and to the patrons of the pool that assisted with the rescue," she said.

Jhonneris Mendez, 17, and Alex Jesus, 13, both of Roslindale, said they were in the deep end when Jesus noticed the boy lying on the bottom of the pool. Mendez said he didn't consider himself a strong swimmer, but he dove in and pulled the victim by the pants to the surface.

"It was, like, reaction. After, I was scared," he said.

Mendez is a pitcher on the Boston English High School baseball team. He was on the mound late last month when the team won its third consecutive Boston City championship.

"I feel good doing something good," he said.

Carlos Gonzales, 15, of Roslindale, who was visiting the pool for the first time, said he saw a boy lying on the ground in the pool area with a woman compressing his chest and a lifeguard performing rescue breathing.

"Are you OK? Are you OK?" the rescuers shouted, Gonzales recalled.

Gonzales said he saw city ambulance workers arrive and continue working on the boy.

By the time the boy was placed in an ambulance wearing an oxygen mask, he appeared to have improved, Gonzales said.

"His eyes were open. You could see he was breathing. You could see his chest -- it was going up and down," he said.

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