FULLERTON : More Than Just Reward for Lifesaver

Since saving the life of his 4-year-old neighbor in June, eighth-grader Brett Kelly has become a local celebrity.

Everyone has wanted to hear the story of how the 12-year-old pulled tiny Christine McCarty from a back-yard swimming pool, called 911 and screamed for his mother to help.

First there was the television reporter knocking on his door at 11 at night, he recalled. Then--he ticked off on his fingers--there came at least six television spots, followed by a smattering of newspaper interviews and all those photographs.

Being a hero, soft-spoken Brett has decided, is not exactly a role he enjoys.

“I am not an outgoing kind of person,” he said before launching once again into the details of last June 24. “It is nerve-racking being on TV.”

But on Tuesday, he endured the limelight one more time as he was honored with the Westec Award for Youth Heroism for taking quick and decisive action that ultimately saved Christine’s life.

“Brett is a hero in every sense of the word,” declared Sandy Rivera, the Westec representative who presented the award. “The people of Fullerton should be proud to have him as part of their community.”

Brett is the 34th youth to receive the award, which is given by the private security firm to recognize acts of bravery and heroism by young people. It honors youths who save lives or prevent injury by acting bravely in emergencies.

He is in the company of youngsters who have foiled burglary attempts, testified against gang members and put out fires.

June 24 did not start out as a day that would propel him into celebrity status, Brett now remembers. He and his brother were playing in the pool with Jonathon McCarty, Christine’s brother, when they noticed that she had disappeared.

After calling Christine’s name several times, Brett spotted her lying face down in the shallow section of the pool.

By the time he reached her, she was completely blue. “She looked like she was sleeping,” Brett said. While the others panicked, he grabbed Christine and screamed for his mother to help.

As he ran into the house and called 911, his mother, Janet, performed rudimentary cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Before the paramedics arrived, Christine was already breathing and crying.

“It was a miracle considering how little I know about CPR,” said Janet Kelly, who learned the lifesaving skill about 17 years ago. “I just pushed on her stomach and she started breathing. . . . The saving grace is that she is OK.”

Christine recovered completely from the incident. She told her grandmother later that same day that she was in the pool because she wanted to “swim like the big boys.”

Since then, the entire Kelly family has enrolled in a lifesaving class because “we all feel now that we need to know about it,” Janet Kelly said. On Tuesday, blond-haired Christine skipped happily near the pool that almost claimed her life as Brett patiently repeated the details of the incident.

But he had other things on his mind besides being a hero, such as how to use the $500 savings bond award. “I am going to buy myself a car,” the 12-year-old said with a smile. “Well, maybe not with only $500.”