Heroic Strangers Save 12-Year-Old Boy From Crocodile Attack

A happy vacation in Cancun turned into a living nightmare after a young boy ends up in a crocodile-infested swamp.

CANCUN TRIP GONE WRONG

Jennifer Buhl and her two sons Johnnie and Charlie took a trip to Cancun, Mexico. The resort the family stayed at had a kids/teen club that Charlie often went to.

After dinner one night, Charlie decided to meet up with friends he made in the teens club at the resort. He met with the other kids at the big resort pool deck where staff members were organizing a massive game of hide and seek.

HIDE-AND-SEEK GONE WRONG

When Charlie got to the pool deck he quickly linked up with his resort best friend, 13-year-old Cyrus. Soon, the massive game of hide-and-seek began. The staff started counting while the kids scattered and began to find the best hiding spot.

Unable to find a good spot, Charlie and Cyrus began looking in less obvious spots. The two boys spotted an area at the side of the pool deck and noticed an area nearby that had not been taken.

FINDING THE WRONG SPOT

Around the outside of the pool deck was a huge fence. Just a few feet tall, the metal fence seemed to exist purely to distinguish the edges of the resort property. As the boys examined the area, they noticed a small door that led to a small flight of stairs which led to a lower area. 

The two boys went through the gate, took a few steps down the stairs, crouched down, and hide. Soon, the game was over, and Charlie and Cyrus had not been found. As the boys were about to reveal themselves, Cyrus noticed a water hose hanging down the steps and for some reason, the water was turned on.

A HORRIFIC DISCOVERY

Cyrus reaches down, grabs the hose, and starts spraying water all over the pool deck, soaking staff members and others. Cyrus is hysterical and turns to see what Charlie's reaction is but suddenly notices Charlie had just been attacked by a crocodile and was about to be dragged down into the water. 

Courageously Cyrus leaped to help his friend and began pulling Charlie by the arms, fighting to get his friend away from the crocodile's mouth. Unexpectedly a family who was enjoying their meal near the pool deck suddenly hears blood-curdling screams. They frantically look around and instinctively run toward the screams. 

STRANGERS LEAP TO THE RESCUE

Others notice the family running frantically and join them because wherever they were going, they were going to need help. The group of people arrive at the open gate Charlie and Cyrus had gone through to hide and charge through, and then they heard screams again.

The group runs toward the screams, looks down the same stairs the boys had gone down, and notices something horrific. The fenced-off area was a dock that fenced off a swampy lagoon that was infested with crocodiles. 

"SAVE ME. SAVE ME"

As the group looks down the stairs they see Cyrus, who looks hysterical and completely shaken up. Before they could ask Cyrus what was going on, Charlie suddenly emerges from the darkness below the steps and calmly says, "Save me. Save me," as a crocodile held him in its mouth.

Without a single ounce of hesitation, the group of adults leaped into the crocodile infest water and began beating the crocodile that was attacking Charlie. According to witnesses, the crocodile was putting up an insane fight, however, the adults never gave up. They continued punching at beating the crocodile until it released Charlie from its grip.

Meanwhile, Charlie's mother had been notified about the situation and bolted to the scene. When she arrived Charlie had been dragged to safety and was on the ground, bloody, mauled, but alive.

THE AFTERMATH

Ultimately Charlie was rushed to the hospital and taken in for surgery. Miraculously doctors saved Charlie's life and leg. A year after the attack Charlie proved how strong and brave he was by dressing up as an alligator for Halloween.

The resort responded to the situation. They covered all of Charlie's medical bills plus invested massive amounts of money to further secure the fenced area to ensure nothing like that ever happens again.