04x08 - Submersion

[bunniefuu]

[Theme music playing]

-♪ Some people stand
in the darkness ♪

♪ Afraid to step
into the light ♪

♪ Some people need
to help somebody ♪

♪ When the edge of
surrender's in sight ♪

♪ Don't you worry

♪ It's gonna be all right ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm always ready

♪ I won't let you
out of my sight ♪

♪ I'll be ready

♪ I'll be ready

♪ Never you fear

♪ No, don't you fear

♪ I'll be ready

♪ Forever and always

♪ I'm always here

♪ 'Cause I'm always ready

♪ I won't let you
out of my sight ♪

♪ Whoa

♪ I'll be ready

♪ I'll be ready

♪ Never you fear

♪ No, don't you fear

♪ I'll be ready

♪ Forever and always

♪ I'm always here

[Soft pop music]

-Buchannon, tower .

Yeah, listen, I want
to go on foot patrol.

Tell c.j. I marked an inshore
hole between our towers.

[Laughs] you, too.

Hello. Anybody home?

Hey!

How many more of
you guy in there?

-Just my brother and me.

-My mom and dad are
up in the trailer.

Whoa, look at it, chuck.
Look at the ocean.

-You know, guys, I'm
afraid we don't allow tents

Or overnight camping
on the beach.

-Oh, sorry. We didn't know.

We just got here last
night from kansas.

We came out here for bobby's
double digit. It's tomorrow.

-Double what?

-Double digit.
His tenth birthday.

Dad says it's the only time
in life you jump a digit

'Til you reach .

I chose the grand
canyon for my tenth,

But bobby wanted to
come to the beach.

He's got like a zillion
books about beaches.

-So what do you think?

-It's loud!

-Something you can't
get in books, huh?

So, I take it you've never been
swimming in the ocean before.

-No, but I'm a
very good swimmer.

-I'm a better swimmer than him.

-Only 'cause you're older.

-[Laughs] well come on,
guys, let me introduce you

To her majesty, the sea.

Come on!

Now, I'm gonna show you
one of the best things

On the beach, are you ready?

Put your footprints
in the wet sand.

Okay, now get 'em in there good.

Now watch.

Move back.

See that?

They're on their way to hawaii.

-Really?

-No, you doofus.
They washed away. That's all.

-Well, there are always
people who are gonna say that,

But we know better, huh?

Okay, now, I'll tell you
what you guys are gotta do.

First of all, take
down your tents, okay?

And tell your parents
to come talk to me.

I'll give them a list of
the campsites, all right?

Third, swim near
a lifeguard tower,

And wear lots of
sunblock, all right?

-Okay.
-Chuck: thanks.

-Mitch: see ya.

-Later.
-Chuck: okay, bye.

[Rock music playing]

♪ Here we go

♪ Right up that hill

-♪ As you know

♪ Time won't sit still

♪ We gotta put one foot
in front of the other ♪

♪ And understand
that we are like brothers ♪

♪ Those monsters under your bed

♪ Are in your head

♪ I'm over the moon here under the sun ♪

♪ This time with you has only just begun

♪ And maybe it's easy for you to see

♪ That this is the life

♪ This is the life

♪ This is the life

♪ I'm over the moon here under the sun

♪ This time with you has only just begun

[Kids yell]

-Hey, guys! Having fun yet?

-Yeah.
-Chuck: yeah!

-Bobby: it's all fun.

-It's the best.

It's okay to play frisbee
on the beach, isn't it?

-Well, that depends.

Have you passed
the frisbee test?

-Huh?

-The frisbee test. I've gotta
give you the frisbee test

To make sure you don't
knock people's heads off.

I tell you what. Go back
steps and toss me the frisbee.

You gonna play with him?

Okay, you stand next to me
and throw it back, okay?

-How'd you learn
how to do that?

-Years of giving that test.

Okay, your turn. Go for it.
Let it fly.

A little off, but very,
very good on technique.

-Did I fail my test?

-Tell you what. You and
chuck go toss the frisbee

Somewhere where it's not
too crowded. You come back,

And I'll let you
take the test again.

-Thanks.

Bye, mitch!

-Mitch, I got a spill
on the bike path,

Looks like they need
a little first aid.

I'll be out of my tower.

-Okay, c.j., Thanks
for telling me.

Hey!

Get that surfboard
out of the water, now!

-Throw it harder.

[Ominous music]

[Grunts]

-Sorry, I'll go get it.

-Chuck: hey, get it. Hurry up.
Get it. Where is it?

-Bobby: oh, oh, oh. I got it!

-Chuck: give it to me.
Give it to me!

Give it back. Hey.
Hey, all right.

-Sorry, pal, but this
is a swimming area.

You wanna surf? Just go
three towers down, okay?

[Ominous music]

[Kids yell]

-Chuck: help! Help!

[Kids choke]

-Bobby: help! Help!

[Dramatic music]

Help!

[Dramatic music]

[Breathes heavy]

-Here you go. Grab the can.
Grab it.

-Got it.
-All right, relax.

Hang on, all right? You got it?

-Chuck: yeah.
-Mitch: all right.
Don't let go.

-Mitch, mitch.

[Yells]

-Help, mitch!

[Yells and cries]

[Dramatic music]

-Help! [Cries]

-Here, grab the can!
Grab it! Now hold on tight!

Okay, okay.

-Bobby: mitch, help!

Help!

Help me, please!

-Don't let go!

[Suspenseful music]

-Possible submersion
north of tower ,

Mitch is in the water.

[Suspenseful music]

[Sirens wail]

-Where is he?

-I don't know. That way.

[Suspenseful music]

[Sirens wail]

-Have the coast guard choppers
do a fly-over. Code three,

And get the paramedics
to the dock.

Kenny, I'm taking
the landing inside.

-I'll get the board.

-Help! Help!

[Gasps]

[Coughs and sputters]

-I've got you!

Just hang on, okay?

-My brother!
-I'm bringing you in.

-My brother!

-Hang on.

-My brother.
-It's okay.

-My brother!

-Roger: hey, what's going on?

-Chuck: mommy, mom.

-What happened?

-They got caught
in a rip current.

-The frisbee went in the water.

-Bobby!

-We went in after it.
-Where's bobby?

-The lifeguards are out there.
They'll find him.

-He's underwater!
Oh my god! No! [Cries]

-Bobby!

-Stephanie: no! Sir, no!

-That's my son!

-If if the lifeguards
have to worry about you,

They cannot help him, so
please, let them do their job.

-Bobby!

-You were supposed
to be watching him.

-It's not my fault! [Sobs]

-Bobby. [Cries]

Where is he?

[Ominous music]

Bobby! No!

-You all need to come
to the lifeguard tower with me.

-Bobby, no!
-Roger: darla.

-Help me, sir.
-Okay.

Please, sir.
-[Shouts] where is he?

[Shouts] where is he?

-There!

[Dramatic music]

-They found him.
They've got him.

-Is he all right?

[Racing music]

-Where are they taking him?

-We've got paramedics
waiting in the marina.

They're gonna take him
to a hospital.
I'll drive you over there.

-Mitch: one, two,
three, four, five.

-C.j.: There's
no respiration.

-No pulse.

-Where's the ambu bag?

-Here.
-One, two, three.
Come on, bobby.

Come on, bobby!

One, two, three, four, five.

Two, three, four, five.
-Patient's approximately
a ten year old male.

He's , pounds.
No respiration,

And we started cpr.

-Attaching defibrillator.

Pads on.

Prepping bp.

-One, two, three, four, five.

One, two, three, four, five.

Come on, bobby. Come on, bobby!

-Analyzing.
-Mitch: two,
three, four, five.

-Machine: stand clear.
Stand clear.

[Defibrillator whirs]

-It's non-shockable.

-Machine: check patient.
Check patient.

-Newmie: no pulse.

-C.j.: Resume cpr.

-Damn it. One, two,
three, four, five.

Come on, bobby!
Three, four, five.

-Newmie: analyzing.

-Machine: stand clear.
Stand clear.

[Defibrillator whirs]

-It's non-shockable.

-Resume cpr.

-Two, three, four, five.
Come on, bobby.

Time to wake up, pal.
Time to wake up.

-Analyzing.

-Machine: stand clear.
Stand clear.

-Newmie: it's charging.

[Defibrillator whirs]

It's shockable!

[Defibrillator whirs]

-Machine: press to shock.
Press to shock.

-Mitch: check the pulse again.

-Machine: check patient.
Check patient.

-No pulse.

-Analyzing.
-Machine: stand clear.
Stand clear.

-It's shockable.

[Defibrillator whirs]

-Machine: press to shock.
Press to shock.

Check patient. Check patient.

-No pulse.

-Analyzing.

-Machine: stand clear.
Stand clear.

[Defibrillator whirs]

-Newmie: it's shockable.

[Defibrillator whirs]

-Machine: press to shock.
Press to shock.

Check patient. Check patient.

[Suspenseful music]

-Man: how long was he under?

-Four to five minutes.

-Did you defib?

-Three sets of three.
Didn't regain.

-C.j.: Where are his parents?

-Should be on the
way to the e.r.

-I'll take it.
-Mitch: no.

-Give it up! Give it up.

-Newmie: just get him in
and roll. Go. Go.

-Now get him in.
Come on. Come on!

One, two, three, four, five.
One, two, three--

Come on!

-Man: go, go, go.
-Two, three, four, five.

One, two, three, four, five.
-Man: watch the line.

-Mitch: one, two, three, four--
-we got him. We got him.

-His heart's arrhythmic.

-He's hypoxic. Let's tube him.

Nasogastric and endotracheal.

I need a lateral c-spine
and a chest scope, stat.

Let's move him.
-Woman: got it.

-I need a quick-look
on the paddles.

Come on, little guy. Come on.

-Woman: here's your paddles.

-There you go.
-He's in defib.
Charge him to .

-Yes, doctor.

-Need some gel paddles
for a quick-look.

-Gel.
-Come on. Come on, gel.

[Machine beeps]

-Doc, he's still cyanotic.

-It's all right.
-All right. Pressure here.

[Machine beeps]
-there's a full t*nk by the bed.

-Doctor: he's in chaotic defib.
How many kilos?

- .

[Machine beeps]

-Standing by.

-Cuffing him.

-Lidocaine standing by.

-Let's get a leak, stat.

-Right.

-Clear.

-Charge to .

-Charging.

Paddles ready.
-Clear! Shocking.

[Machine beeps]

Clear!

[Machine pulses]

He's converted.
We've got sinus rhythm.

-His bp's a little choppy.

Coming in, though.

-Get a second line.

Start a second line.

-Doc, I got a pulse now.
Bp over .

-Okay, draw a blood gas.
Let's get an eeg.

-Okay.

-You'll have to
wait here, okay?

[Sorrowful music]

-They got his heart started.

He's breathing.

-Is he awake?

-No, not yet.

He's still unconscious.

But the doctor's told me--

-How could you let
this happen to my baby?

Where were you? [Cries]

You're a lifeguard. You were
supposed to protect him.

[Sobs]

-It's okay. It's gonna be okay.

-[Sobs] oh no.

-Roger: it's gonna be okay.

[Melancholy music]

-Dad! Hey dad!

Hey, I was just on my way to
go see you. That's so weird!

So, what's up?

[Melancholy music]

He's gonna be okay, dad.
You'll see.

-You know, he was right there.
He was right there.

I should have gotten to him.

-But you had to
save the other boy.

And you saved him,
and he's alive.

-They came to the beach
for bobby's tenth birthday.

His double digit would
have been tomorrow.

-It'll still be tomorrow.

He's gonna be okay.

-Not everybody is always okay.

People make mistakes.

Other people die.

-[Sighs]

-Bobby!

-My brother!

-Darla: [screams] where is he?

Bobby! [Sobs]

You were supposed
to protect him.

-Mitch: time to wake up.

[Eerie music]

-No pulse, no pulse, pulse,
pulse, pulse.

-Newmie: it's non-shockable.

-C.j.: Resume cpr.

-Mitch: come on, bobby.
Time to wake up.

Come on, bobby.

-Get that pulse
oximeter on his fingers.

-Ventilator system.

-He's still cyanotic.

-There's a full t*nk by the bed.

-It's .

-Charge to .

-Charging.

Paddles ready.

-Clear!

Shocking.

[Machine beeps]

-No!

[Eerie music]

No.

[Eerie music]

-Anyone?

-Mitch: hobie?

Hobie?

Hobie? Hobie? [Breathes heavy]

-Dad, what's wrong? You okay?

-[Breathes shakily]

[Solemn music]

-The purpose of this debriefing

Isn't to lay blame anywhere.

It's to go over each person's
involvement in the incident,

Analyze our actions to
see if they were correct.

If they weren't, to revise
department procedures

To make sure this kind of
thing doesn't happen again.

Now, I talked to
the boy's doctor.

He has
extensive pulmonary edema.
He's still comatose,

But his arms and legs are
responding to stimuli,

Which hopefully means that
there's no brain damage.

Now the fact that the
boy's alive at all, mitch,

Is because of your
quick response and
professional efforts.

I read the incident report,
stephanie. Thank you very much.

It painted a very clear picture
as to what was happening--

-Look, let's just cut
through all this, huh?

You read the incident report.

The rescue was picture-perfect.

Newmie spotted the boy.
Cpr on the boat was textbook.

The transfer to the hospital
was professional and efficient.

The only problem
here is none of this
should have ever been necessary.

Those boys should have
never been in bad water.

They were my responsibility.

-Didn't you hear
me before, mitch?

I said that this
wasn't about blame.

That includes you
blaming yourself.

-I am to blame.

I knew the inshore
hole was there.

I knew those boys had
never been swimming

In the ocean before.

I should have been watching
them more carefully.

-You also had
primary responsibility
for those swimmers

Who might have become
victims if you hadn't

Gotten that surfer
out of the water.

-It was a series
of circumstances.

If the boys' parents
hadn't been making lunch,

If I hadn't been back
on the bike path.

-Ifs. You want
to talk about ifs?

-No, I don't want
to talk about ifs.

I want to talk about
procedures. All right?

-Okay.

-What happened once
you hit the water?

-Well, I spotted the first boy.

-Russell: chuck?

-Yeah, chuck, bobby,
from kansas.

Well [sighs]

Chuck was closer, so
I got to him first,

And I handed him the rescue can.

Then I kept him in tow
while I swam to save [cries]

To save bobby.

But chuck's hands slipped
off the rescue can,

So I had to make a choice.

I went back to get chuck.

By the time I started in the
other direction to get bobby,

He was submerged.

-How far from you was
bobby relative to chuck?

- , Feet farther.

-So it would have taken you
longer to swim to bobby first,

And then come back
after chuck, right?

-Chuck was a stronger swimmer.

-You made the only choice
you could make, mitch.

-No, not considering
the results.

-We'd all have
done the same thing.

-Mitch, you can't
second-guess yourself here.

-I misjudged the situation.

-What if you'd made
the other choice?

You saved bobby
and you lost chuck?

Is his life any less valuable?

[Sorrowful music]

[Machines beep and whir]

[Sorrowful music]

[Serene music]

-Mitch, I really don't
think it's a good idea

That you work this
tower again so soon.

-I thought you'd
be the one to say,

"Climb back in the saddle".

-Well, why don't you wait until

After the psychological
debriefing?

I'll be conducting it.

-Stephanie, I've
conducted them, too.

I know everything
that's gonna be said.

-You've conducted
psych debriefings?

-Yes.

-Then you should recognize
that you're clearly

Displaying symptoms
with critical instant
stress disorder.

-Stephanie, I'm not.

-Yes. Feelings of guilt,
withdrawal and depression,

Outbreaks of hostility, and--

-How else am I
supposed to feel?

-That's exactly the point.

This incident had
all the criteria

For post-traumatic stress.

One, the victim was a child.

Two, you exerted
extraordinary energy,

Both physical and emotional
in a prolonged rescue attempt.

And three, you saw the
victim but were unable

To reach him in time.

Mitch, any one of those warrants
critical incident stress debrief
within hours.

-Well, it's been less than ,

So why don't we see
how bobby makes out

Before we worry about me, huh?

-Mitch.

-What?

-I'll stay here why
you go on a workout.

If you won't do anything
else to relieve your stress,

Why don't you go for a run?

[Breathes heavy]

[Eerie music]

-Darla: where were you?

-Pulse. Pulse. No pulse.

-Mitch: one, two, three.
One, two. Come on. Come on.

Time to wake up.

Time to wake up.

One, two, three, four.
One, two, three, four, five.

Come on, bobby!

Come on, bobby!

No!

-Darla: how could you
let this happen to my baby.

Where were you?

How could you let this
happen to my baby?

Where were you?

-Mitch: come on, bobby.

One, two, three, four, five.
Time to wake up.

[Eerie music]

-Darla: how could you
let this happen to my baby?

Where were you?

[Breathes heavy]

[Kids play]

-Oh, no.

Hey!

[Racing music]

[Racing music]

It's okay. I got you.
-Boy: hey, man,
what are you doing?

-Mitch: here. Come here.
I got you.

-Mitch, mitch.
They're all right.

-I got them, I got them.
-Kenny: they're all right.

I'm watching them.
They're okay.

-Yeah, but he's not!

-Hold on to this.

It's all right.

[Somber music]

-Mitch: thanks
for coming out here.

I couldn't do this
sitting in a room.

Although it doesn't really
matter where I am, because

In my mind I'm still out there.

Too far away to
save a little boy

Who trusted his life to me.

-Mitch, for all you know,
you may have saved his life.

Like you said, we have to wait
and see how bobby makes out.

-You know, if it hadn't been
a busy day. You know, packed.

Hundreds of people in the water,

I would have been more focused.

I just can't help thinking that

I wasn't sharp enough, you know?

That I was too relaxed
because everything

Seemed so secure.

I took things for granted.

I told that little
boy that the ocean

Would wash his footprints
all the way to hawaii.

He actually believed me.

He told me he loved the ocean

More than anything in the world.

-He sounds a lot like you.

-I need to go to the hospital.

-No, I don't think
that's a good idea.

-It doesn't matter.
I have to go.

-Mitch, his parents
might not want you there.

-Venting their rage
at me might help them

Relieve their stress.

-Stephanie: I'll go with you.

-Mitch: thanks. I need
to stop by
the house first, okay?

-Okay.

-Some of his vital functions
have kicked back in.

His electrolytes are better.
He's no longer acidotic,

And the eeg shows no
apparent brain damage.

However, there are some
pulmonary complications.

The insult to his
lungs was quite severe.

-[Sigh]

-What are his chances?

-Anything from permanent coma
to full recovery.

-Thank you.

-You're welcome.

[Machines beep and whir]

-Come in.

-I hope you don't
mind, but we just...

We just stopped by to
give bobby something

For his double digit.

-May we come in?

[Machines beep and whir]

Have you eaten anything?

-My husband and my other son

Went to get me
something. Thank you.

[Somber music]

What is that?

-It's my son's lucky marble.

Hobie always holds
it in his hand

When he wants things
to go his way.

We wanted bobby to have it.

[Somber music]

-I wish you'd have given
it to him yesterday.

Ten years ago today,
I was in a hospital bed

Giving birth to my son.

And now I'm here watching
his life slip away

Thanks to you.

-Darla?

-These lifeguards
just stopped by

To see the results
of their handiwork.

-Darla.

-Mrs. Clark.

-No, steph, it's okay.

-No, it's not.

Mrs. Clark,
I understand your grief.

I even understand
your bitterness.

But you have to understand
that if it wasn't for mitch

Both your sons could
have died out there.

[Somber music]

-My wife is just very upset.

We know it wasn't your fault.

We appreciate the efforts
that all of you made.

[Hopeful music]

-Look.

[Hopeful music]

-I'll get doctor jacobs.

-Bobby. Bobby, can you
hear me. It's mommy.

Open your eyes, sweetie.

-Bobby?

-Come on, bobby.
It's time to wake up.

Come on.

[Machines beep]

-Oh, bobby. Oh, thank god.
[Cries]

-Darla, careful with him.
Careful.

Doctor, he's conscious.
He opened his eyes!

-Hey, bobby, how
you doing there, pal?

What's this?

-Oh, that's--

-That's bobby's double digit
birthday present from...

From the man who saved his life.

-Then I guess we better
let him hold on to it.

Pretty strong pulse
there, young man.

-Once you're out of there,
you oughta let mitch teach you

How to throw a frisbee straight.

-[Laughs]

[Uplifting music]

[End theme playing]