BELLEVUE, Neb. --
Authorities said a step from a ladder snapped when a 16-year-old lifeguard tried to get out of a pool.
On Wednesday afternoon, Bellevue firefighters were called to Cascio Pool, where they found the lifeguard in the water with the ladder still attached to his foot. The rescue crew was tasked with removing the ladder and the lifeguard together from the water.
"He was hanging onto the rest of broken part of the ladder and the other lifeguards jumped in and helping him stay upright,” Capt. Herb Evers said.
Fellow lifeguards stood by, trying to calm and comfort their friend. They counted to distract him from the pain as rescue crews pulled the piece from his foot.
"We cut the ladder from the base, where it meets the concrete and lifted the entire piece of ladder with the patient with the assistance of the lifeguard,” Brian Koontz said.
Firefighters said the lifeguards didn’t hesitate to help rescue one of their own.
"(They) apparently had some good training in the mindset of saving lives and helping the injured,” Evers said.
The city is investigating why the ladder broke.
The teen was rushed to Bellevue Medical Center, where he was treated and released.
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