Heroic Mother Saves Three Children

KFSM ^

[chance33_98]

Heroic Mother Saves Three Children 
June 24, 2002
Posted at: 4:45 p.m.

by Sean Bolen

BEAVER LAKE, Ark. -- A family is recovering Monday after their boat exploded on Beaver Lake over the weekend. Authorities say the three children that were on board are alive because of the heroic efforts of their mother.

Paula Smith is recovering at Saint Mary's Hospital in Rogers with first and second degree burns to her lower body, while one of her other children was also burned when their 19-foot Bayliner motorboat became engulfed in flames. Authorities say it could have much worse had Smith not acted quickly and got all three children off the rapidly burning boat, and then jumping off herself.

The incident happened in the Lost Bridge South Park area of Beaver Lake near a boat ramp. Charred and melted fiberglass is all that's left of the craft after something sparked a fire which quickly engulfed the motor boat. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, which investigates boating accidents, says the family had just put the boat in the water and was restarting it to go back to the dock to pick up another passenger when it burst into flames.

Investigators believe there may have been a problem with the boats blower, which clears gasoline fumes. Witnesses to the fire say Smith was throwing the kids off the boat and went through flames to get to them.

"Several eyewitnesses said she got them and she was close enough to the bank that she could get them on the bank," said Brian McKenzie of the AGF&C. "She kept going back and getting children and putting them off."

Smith is in fair condition with burns to her lower body. In addition to the three children aboard, the Smiths had two family dogs with them on the boat. Both of them were able to escape the boat as well.

[chance33_98]

This is the second article I have posted in as many days of a mother saving her children. Sadly, I do not see NOW rushing to the scene to say anything or do anything - guess they only like the Andrea Yates types.

[poet]

The great majority of moms are heroines.

[homeschool mama]

ping