WHIRLPOOL 

By Tessa Harvey


    She had her son's hoodie, her feet clenched around roots and bushes, then the dark cruel water flooded back again, whirling in terrifying circles.     
    "Hold on," a man yelled, "I'm coming." But her grip was slipping. An arm grabbed Thomas, yanking hard with impressive strength. He grabbed the child, the water trying to suck him down and the woman too. Lucas came to help them all, sobbing, but still able to pull his wife and child out with desperation.
    Aaron turned the boy so he sloped downwards, put him in the recovery position, pressed his chest.
    Thomas looked awful, pale, blue-white. After a few minutes, he spluttered, coughed, cried, jerked - went silent.
    Sirens wailed. Within seconds a paramedic and a doctor were there, fighting for the little child.
    Esther was racked with pain, struggling. Aaron motioned to another paramedic. Quickly they stretchered Thomas to a waiting ambulance. Others stabilised Thomas. Within minutes they were all gone to the hospital. Aaron went home slowly.

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