Photo by Contributed photo
Brookelyn Irvin nearly drowned in Hartwell Lake over the weekend but was saved by Benji Barbare.
Photo by Nathan Gray
Benji Barbare saved 2-year-old Brookelyn Irvin, who nearly drowned at Hartwell Lake over the weekend.
Photo by Contributed photo
Brookelyn Irvin nearly drowned in Hartwell Lake over the weekend but was saved by Benji Barbare.
ANDERSON — Tasha Irvin of Pelzer heard her sister scream Saturday afternoon while they were cooking out and swimming at Hartwell Lake. She knew something was wrong.
Irvin’s daughter, 2-year-old Brookelyn, had been playing in the waves of the lake. Now Irvin’s sister, Mandy Nicole Greer, had Brookelyn’s limp form in her arms and was running for help.
Irvin ran to her sister and saw a man holding Brookelyn. “She was like a lifeless rag doll in his arms,” she said.
Benji Barbare of Anderson — a stranger to Irvin — stepped in and did something he learned how to do once in his life more than 16 years ago.
On Monday, medical officials said Barbare saved Brookelyn’s life.
“I looked at her face and her little lips were purple and her eyes were purple,” said Barbare, who has a 3-year-old child himself. “I just grabbed her and put her on the ground and started CPR. It was just natural instinct.”
It was around 6 p.m., Barbare said. He was with a friend on Saturday and they, along with Irvin, her children, some of her family and several others, were all on the lake near Stone Creek Cove. They were preparing to watch fireworks. Greer said one of the men was running back to the house to get lifejackets.
Greer was watching Brookelyn, sitting with her in the sand where the waves could hit them. Meanwhile, Greer’s son, 7-year-old Tyler Mize, was out in the water lying atop a float. When it flipped, Tyler realized he was out too far and he panicked. He hollered for his mama.
“I only had a second to think. Brookelyn had a floatie around her waist,” Greer said. “I told her to stay right there. I was thinking, if my son is panicking, I didn’t think it would be a good idea to take her out. But I guess she tried to follow me.”
“When I saw her in that water, it seemed like it took forever to get to her. The doctor said it was only three minutes, but I swear it seemed like an hour.”
It was then that Barbare stepped in.
Barbare, who will be 34 today, was a student at Westside High School when he took a lifeguard class at one of the city of Anderson’s swim centers. It was the one and only time he ever had a CPR class. And he never used that class until Saturday.
That lapse of time didn’t give him pause — not when he saw Brookelyn.
He bent down, put her on the bank and started trying to resuscitate her. “The bank was muddy and I couldn’t get good compressions,” he said. “So I moved her up to harder ground. Then I started blowing into her mouth.”
One compression. Two. Three. Barbare doesn’t remember how many he did. Neither does Irvin.
Irvin said that as soon as she saw Brookelyn unconscious, she froze.
“It was a blur” Irvin said. “I couldn’t do a thing. I just remember someone grabbing me and holding onto me. I remember Benji saying, ‘Back up. I know what I’m doing.’ I was screaming and crying and begging God not to take her.”
Then Brookelyn let out a small cough. It was only then that Irvin let her body exhale a little.
Barbare said he felt for a pulse on Brookelyn and then turned her over on his arm so she could cough up water.
In what really only took minutes, first responders with Williford Fire Department arrived, followed by the Medshore Ambulance Service. Steve Kelly, a paramedic with Medshore, said Brookelyn was still having trouble breathing and was lethargic.
“Whoever did the CPR did a lot to save her life. Pulling her out of the water was the first thing and then getting her breathing again was the second thing,” Kelly said.
Don McCown of Medshore said it takes only a couple of minutes for a child to become unconscious without oxygen. If CPR isn’t started within four to six minutes, the child’s brain can suffer irreversible damage.
“That’s why we tell parents don’t even leave your child alone in the bath water,” McCown said. “It is no doubt that this person, because they pulled her from the water and started CPR, saved the child’s life.”
Kelly and Brian Harbin of Medshore put an oxygen mask on Brookelyn and took her to AnMed Health Medical Center. There she went through X-rays and was taken to Greenville Memorial Hospital for overnight observation.
At noon, Sunday, she was back home, Irvin said.
“I never met Benji before that day,” Irvin said. “But I thank God for him. He saved my beautiful baby’s life. Without him, she wouldn’t be here.”
Barbare said, again, he was just acting on instinct. “I just did it because the good Lord was looking out for her. I ain’t no hero.” Hero or no hero, he received a call Sunday evening that did his heart good.
It was Brookelyn on the other end of the line.
“She said, ‘Thank you, Benji. Thank you, Benji. That meant a lot to me,” Barbare said. “That broke me down.”
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Comments » 35
colt writes:
You ARE a hero , perhaps the biggest kind .
Canis_flavus writes:
“But I thank God for him" - what a weird thing to say. By that same logic, God is the one who almost drowned your child. If anything, he should be mad at God for letting it get that far.
concernedparent writes:
The devil always tries to make an appearance and do his damage, Even in an uplifting story such as this one. Shame on you for casting doubt.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding.
In all your ways remember Him. Then He will make your paths smooth and straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
faieriesfun writes:
the lord gives us trials every day guess you failed yours canis-flavus given your name was enough to tell your true colors
PYT writes:
Thank God for Benji and that Brookelyn is alright. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing, some people have entertained angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2)
So nice to read a story with a happy ending!
clemson_girl writes:
I can' even think of a response to your extremely RUDE remark.
Canis_flavus writes:
I'm sorry, but none of your remarks make any logical sense. If God was that powerful, why would he not just stopped the devil? Or if think that it was a trial, what kind of horrible God would almost kill a child to test someone's faith?
MaryCatherine writes:
Canis,
I see where you are going with this and you might as well save your breath. Epicurus is beyond these people. Just let them be happy not thinking about it and the system will keep them from imposing their faith on you.
bubbette writes:
Wow, they sure are deleting a lot of posts this morning. Two defending canis just complete disappeared. Guess we know where the Independent stands on independent thought.
Hortuscustodis writes:
Note to the mods, the above citations of God and the references to the bible are all in violation of the user-contributor policy. They all make reference to things that are not "factual".
Canis, I am with you on the folly of the belief that some God is testing or of some devil causing such events. But, give it up! Those that believe can not think enough to see the facts.
BTW, I am very happy the man was there to save the little girl!!!
Maybe this story will help those that leave such things to chance will cease to do so!!!!
andtiger writes:
You will get to meet him only for a few seconds one day , and then sent on your way (down)..
TheDayClan071605 writes:
I am so thankful that Benji saved Beautiful Brookelyn's life. I don't know what we would do without her. I am her baby sitter and I love that little girl so much, and your day will come whomever you are for saying such things about God. He and Benji saved our Brookelyn's life. And everyone involved with Brookelyn are very very thankful for him!!!!
Hortuscustodis writes:
Is that meant to scar people into believing in your god?
It is not working and why is a god that must resort to threats to gain "worshipers" worthy of worship? Yet more evidence of an impotent myth.
Really, if one is going to make up a god at least make it worth worshiping!
iagirl writes:
Make up God?! God wasn't the one that let the little girl almost drown-it was the negligence of her not being looked after. God does not threaten nor does he want you to fear him, but mind you, there are consequences and there will be a judgement one day for all of our sins. I just pray that you repent before that time comes.
music_is_life writes:
I honestly think it's sad that an amazing rescue story can have one line picked out of it, and be transformed into something this was not about. A man saved a little girl's life, and the mother happened to make a comment about thanking God for Mr. Barbare; so what? Let it lie. Each person has a right to believe whatever they believe.
Just be happy the girl is safe. I know I am.
Niblits writes:
Barbare, you are a true hero. I'm going to take some flak for this but I think God put you in that place at that time. Life is so precious.
Everyone should learn CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver.
Everyone should also be able to swim. Sheppard Swim Center offers swimming lessons at a very low price. It's practically a gift from the City of Anderson.
It breaks my heart to see the headlines someone has drowned.
Hortuscustodis writes:
Yes, there are reams published on the origins of "Christianity". Once one looks at the evidence objectively for it one very quickly sees that Christianity was created to control the masses.
No one denied negligence, as a matter of fact I pointed it out! Albeit in far less harsh terms.
Your last three sentences contradictory. Thereby nullifying them.
Notice the "power rush" you felt in telling someone that they were headed to an eternal place of torture and burning anguish but that if they just believed and "repented" then all would be well. Too bad, it is illogical to reject your god and accept your torturous ending. In other words, no god=no burning for eternity. BTW, it works both ways. Try logic and novel thought, they are useful tools for solving problems and ridding oneself of mythology and superstition.
iagirl writes:
Power rush?! That's the silliest thing I have ever heard. There's no power rush in saying someone should repent. And it's not up to me who goes up or who goes down. I seriously pray for anyone that does not have the peace of having God in their heart. What I think is ugly is for individuals like you to run around bashing anyone that believes in God-the same thing that through all of your remarks you seem to think that Christians do. Ironic? I don't care to bash you in any way, you have a right to your opinion and to believe/not believe in eternity. God knows what is really in our hearts that make us the people that we are. I'll suggest a good read for you called "The Shack." It portrays God as the kind, forgiving God that he really is. And I thank God everyday for all the many blessings he has bestowed upon me.
Hortuscustodis writes:
Then why do you feel compelled to tell any nonbeliever that they need to repent? Or is it simply a way to absolve yourself of your "sin"?
Why pray for someone that you have no clue about? More to the point, what makes you think you know my state of mind and how peaceful or content I am in my knowledge of what happens when one dies?
It may not "be up to you" in your mythology but, you have already made a determination about what my fate is. Hence, you have judged, to claim otherwise is a logical fallacy.
No the irony is that you judge people on whether or not they believe mythology and condemn those that do not. My words have been honest not ugly. It is you that brought up burning eternally not me. Your god is not logical or very potent if it must tell its adherents that they must make a choice and worship it or be sent to a burning eternity. To have such confidence in such a weak and vengeful god is very revealing about one's personality and mindset!
Proudmommy09 writes:
I understand everyone has thier beliefs and thats fine...whatever...but the most important thing is that Benji saved Brookelyn's life! And that she gets to grow up with us! I'm Brookelyn's mother and I'll say it again...I'm very very thankful 4 Benji...He saved my beautiful baby's life!
andersonnurse writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
andersonnurse writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
andersonnurse writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Hortuscustodis writes:
I am a neighbor!!!
I hope you do not work where ever or when ever I need to seek medical care!!
I would feel far more comfortable with a staff that relies on science, facts and research instead of a mythological being for my medical needs!
I will ignore you ad heminem insults for now
Canis_flavus writes:
in response to andersonnurse
Just saying the word "ignorance" is not an intelligent argument as to why you believe that I am wrong. Please explain as to why you feel that I have been ignorant when I asked how you can thank a God for saving a child when, by using that same logic, He put that child in harm in the first place.
in response to Hortuscustodis
It is "ad hominem" not "ad heminem". One cannot be too careful when attempting to take the intellectual high ground.
Hortuscustodis writes:
Your are correct.
Thanks, I utilize the hunt and peck typing method and missed the "e" in "ad hominem" when I read it before hitting the "post" button.
Although I am not certain that many of the other, if any at all, posters would have noticed!
mmurphy2440#265819 writes:
Wow...the egos are out today! I don't give a rip what any of you believe. I think the story was great and I'm thrilled the little girl is safe at home. Get over yourselves, you're not as intelligent as you think you are. No matter your religious beliefs, a little education in CPR and basic lifesaving techniques gave someone their life back.
benthere writes:
God is that powerful. He put the man there at that exact moment to save the child.
Proudmommy09 writes:
Thank you! Brookelyn's alive because Benji saved her....thats the whole point!!
Proudmommy09 writes:
Amen!!
Proudmommy09 writes:
~*~For all u that wanna know...Brookelyn's doing very well...still the same amazing little girl as always! I'm so very thankful to God & Benji b/c I get to spend another day with my beautiful lil angel!~*~
~I also wanna thank all of u for ur positive comments...Benji deserves to know what a wonderful thing he did! He's our HERO!!~
Canis_flavus writes:
Again, that makes no sense what so ever. If your God is that powerful, it means that he also put that child there in the first place.
So do you think that he put the child there or that he doesn't have that much power?
clemson_girl writes:
Hortus and canis:
A quote I saw once on a church sign,
"Hel* is a truth realized too late"
Canis_flavus writes:
Why would you just resort to fear mongering instead of posting something of value? Is it that you don't have anything of value to add to the conversation or that you just don't want to answer any of the questions asked?
Hortuscustodis writes:
Canis, _girl resorts to hate for both reasons.
_girl, once again proving two things. One, you do not have a clue about what you speak (post). Two, you are truly a girl, a Clemson woman would not resort to such trivialities and would also realize that to make such posts is disingenuous at best.
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