GRAND ISLE, La. — The father of a 10-year-old girl who nearly drowned in Grand Isle over the weekend is warning parents and calling for change.
Travis Christen told WWL Louisiana on Wednesday that his daughter is lucky to be alive, and he says that’s thanks to an angel nurse who just happened to be on the beach on Sunday.
“The nurse, she’s a hero; she’s an angel that was sent down to protect my child,” Christen said.
Christen says he has PTSD from a near-death experience with his 10-year-old daughter Audriana.
“I pulled her up, and she was lifeless in my hand,” Christen said.
Sunday, she nearly drowned in the ocean water in Grand Isle.
“My daughter was in not even knee-deep water, maybe 8 inches of water. We were there not even 5 minutes.”
And just that fast – she went under – breathing in the salt water.
A nurse who happened to be there performed CPR on the young girl, who was life-flighted to the children’s hospital – where she underwent treatment.
Christen says despite her brain going without oxygen for quite a while, doctors believe she will recover.
“When the nurses mess with her bedding or mess with her tubes, she doesn’t like it. She kicks and throws a little temper tantrum, which is a good sign.”
A good sign as she embarks on a long recovery journey – that Christen says has forever changed him.
“I will never go there again. My children will never go there again,” Christen stated.
He wants Jefferson Parish to consider a few changes for those that will return.
“Put lifeguards on the beach, have EMTs patrolling at all times, especially during the summer, would be great, and have those signs up warning people of the rip tides, of the high waves,” Christen said.
The Grand Isle Police Department says that while there are no lifeguards on duty on the beach, there are life rings available to beachgoers.
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