A hero of a big brother

Sue Doyle

CORONA DEL MAR--Eight-year-old Nico Napolitano and his brother Luke, 4,

love horsing around in the water.

But the two boys now know that swimming skills are not just for fun and

games. Knowing how to swim can save lives.

Last week, Nico bravely plunged into the ocean and saved Luke from

drowning.

Nico was playing with a group of other children, jumping off a dock into

Beacon Bay. It seemed like a fabulous idea to Luke, who takes swimming

lessons and can comfortably paddle around a pool.

The two boys and their parents were attending a Memorial Day party at a

home across from the beach. The adults were inside, but the children

wanted to romp outdoors.

Their mother, Linda Napolitano, said she never suspected the children

would venture into the water because it was so cold that day.

Luke joined the other children and jumped off the dock, too. He quickly

learned that the ocean, unlike a pool, was deep, with strong currents. He

panicked and called out for help.

His older brother said he will never forget the sound of those cries.

Nico was swimming to shore and spun around, only to see his little

brother’s head barely bobbing in the water. The protective big brother

plunged back into the ocean and grabbed Luke, who clung to his back.

Nico told him to hold, then swam to shore.

“He saved my life,” Luke said.

The youngster said he didn’t realize he was putting himself in danger.

“I jumped off because I didn’t think the water was deep,” Luke said.

Nico, who has taken swimming lessons but not any lifesaving classes, said

he just did what came naturally.

“I was just freaked out. He was already under water when I went to save

him,” he said.

The boys’ parents, who were across the street from the water, didn’t even

know what happened until Luke came running over, soaking wet and with a

big grin on his face.

It has been nearly a week since the incident, but their mother said she

still experiences mixed emotions about the close call. She’s proud of her

8-year-old for his quick thinking, but can’t help wondering about what

might have happened.

“I’m still reeling from all of this,” she said. “I could have lost them

both.”