Former Falcons Coach Raheem Morris Reunites with 3-Year-Old Boy He Rescued
Former Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator and interim head coach Raheem Morris, who currently serves as the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, played a heroic role in saving the life of 3-year-old Wyatt in a Memorial Day weekend incident in Las Vegas.
When Wyatt was discovered unconscious at the bottom of a pool, Morris sprang into action and assisted in reviving him. With the help of Dr. Andrew Oleksyn, who performed life-saving measures, Morris's quick thinking to retrieve an AED played a crucial role in averting a tragedy.
Morris met with the child and his family at the Rams' facility in a heartwarming reunion featured on "Good Morning America" on Friday.
The heartfelt embrace between Morris and Wyatt was incredibly touching, especially when considering the father's firsthand account of the events that transpired.
"I was sitting in a chair and my 7-year-old son runs over and says, 'Wyatt, Wyatt. He's under the water. There was no heartbeat. There was no pulse. When I picked him up, he was actually face down, his nose at the bottom of the pool," Wyatt's father said.
Morris recalls hearing a scream from the pool, an instinctive trigger that propelled him into immediate action. It was his quick response that ultimately saved Wyatt's life.
"My kids are all in the pool and I hear a scream," Morris said. "I see Wyatt laying poolside and he's blue. And I could just feel the panic of it all and you feel like you're alone and I just looked at her in the face and asked her, 'Where's the AED machine?'"
Fortunately, Wyatt's condition turned out to be alright after he was taken to the hospital, all thanks to the courageous actions of Morris and Dr. Oleksyn. Morris attributed his preparedness in such a frightening situation to the Rams' first-aid and AED training, highlighting the significance of proper training and education.
Follow Jacob Hare on Twitter.
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Falcons? Click Here.
Follow Falcon Report on Twitter.
Want even more Atlanta Falcons news? Check out the SI.com team page here.