Boy who almost drowned recovering

A 14-year-old boy is in good condition tonight after a very close call in the water at Lake Leamon in Wallace. Officials say Andre Williams was swimming in the lake Sunday with his friends, when he panicked, and nearly drowned.

Lake Leamon in Wallace is a popular destination. Officials say this weekend was especially busy.

Luckily for Williams, two bystanders saw him drowning, got there just in time, and saved his life. Officials say the two bystanders administered CPR before medical personnel arrived. By the time EMS got to the scene, the young teen had a pulse. Medical officials say his lungs were filled with water, and he was having a hard time catching his breath. At that point, Duplin County Emergency Services transported him to Duplin General Hospital, and then airlifted him to Pitt Memorial in Greenville, where he spent the night in critical condition.

"Had he stayed, if he had been down and no one had done anything to rescue him or revive him, the situation might be completely different," said Michael Johnson, Duplin County Emergency Services.

Emergency personnel say typically after six minutes of being underwater, brain and heart cells begin to die. Williams was rescued after an estimated five minutes. The bystanders who saved his life had just learned CPR. Medical officials say knowing CPR, or some form of water rescue is a good thing, especially for those who live in beach or lake towns.