A mother, who saved her drowning son, is being hailed a hero. Chelsea Russell, 33, a mother of two was enjoying a family trip on Lake Powell in Utah when she heard the voice of her 2-year-old son falling in the water and yelling for help.
Without hesitation, Russell jumped into the lake to save her child. None of the people on the houseboat were wearing life vests. Moreover, for 5 minutes, the brave mother fought and struggled to keep her little boy above water and alive.
Upon realizing that Chelsea Russell was not going to be able to swim back to the boat, her brother hopped in leaving their mother and at least one other child aboard. According to San Juan County Sheriff Rick Eldredge, here is what occurred next:
“The boat had kept moving after Russell went in and the man realized he was too far away from her and the child. So he returned to the vessel to retrieve a motorboat they had been towing. The knots tethering it were so tight that he had to cut them with a knife.”
Eldredge went on to reveal that the brother grabbed the crying child, got him to safety, but by the time he got Russell into the boat, she was unconscious. Eldredge said the mother was able to keep her child floating on her chest even after she fainted. Eldredge said:
“She was still, for whatever reason, able to keep the baby on her chest, whether conscious or unconscious.”
CPR began in the boat as Russell was rushed to the Hall’s Crossing Marina where it continued for approximately 30 minutes. Russell was then pronounced dead. Russell’s co-workers at the associate law firm, Welborn, Sullivan, Meck & Tooley posted a statement in her memory, which read:
“Chelsey was an amazing mother, an exceptional legal talent, an extraordinary athlete, a loyal and generous friend, and left us all better for knowing her. She is sorely missed.”
The law firm’s page about Russell states that she was a brilliant attorney, who loved the outdoors. It says:
“Ms. Russell was born and raised in Denver. After graduating with a BSBA in General Business from the University of Denver, she worked her way from land associate to landman for a local oil and gas exploration and development company. Ms. Russell received her JD from the University of Denver in 2011, where she was a contributor to the Race to the Bottom Blog, a nationally recognized student/faculty collaborative corporate governance blog. Ms. Russell is actively involved in her community and enjoys running marathons, hiking, skiing, and spending time with her family.”
Teri Tucker, acting superintendent for Glen Canyon Recreational Area, where Russell used to enjoy various activities, expressed her sadness in a statement:
“There are no words to convey the tragedy of losing a loved one like this. Our hearts are with the family and friends of the victims during this time of unexpected pain and loss.”
Chelsea Russell’s selfless act has touched many people online.
