A day at the beach is a perfect way to escape the sweltering heat, but as one Massachusetts mother recently discovered, the shoreline can also present unexpected dangers.
Heather Cassini, who is still shaken by the incident, wants to raise awareness about the risks.
The incident happened on July 4th, when Cassini and her 10-year-old son, Declan, were enjoying a day at Hampton Beach in New Hampshire. Despite the summer heat, Cassini initially wasn’t concerned when Declan mentioned feeling unwell after playing in the ocean.
In a now-viral Facebook post, Cassini shared, “I thought maybe the breakfast didn’t sit well with the waves, and he just needed to lie down.” But as they headed back to their spot, Declan became disoriented and collapsed onto a nearby sunbather. He briefly got back on his feet, only to fall again.
“I’m trying desperately to pick him up because I’m pregnant,” Cassini told Today.com. “He’s vomiting and drifting in and out of consciousness. He was really pale.”
A group of nearby women quickly noticed the situation and rushed to help. Paramedics arrived and monitored Declan’s vitals, working to keep him warm and alert. “God bless everyone around us,” Cassini said. “There were so many nurses.”
After what felt like an eternity, Declan began to recover. “He was up and talking,” Cassini wrote. “We got him to the car and waited for him to feel better.”
Doctors later determined that Declan had suffered from hypothermia due to the 52-degree ocean water.
“I had no idea this could happen,” Cassini remarked. “You think about sunburns, dehydration, and all the usual risks, but cold shock wasn’t something I ever considered.”
Now, Cassini is on a mission to warn others about the danger of hypothermia, even in the heat of summer. “Just a heads up to parents with kids who love the water and don’t feel cold. Just because they don’t feel it, doesn’t mean they can handle it.”
This experience serves as an important reminder—not just for parents, but for everyone—that hypothermia can strike even on the hottest of days.
