Quick thinking in critically important moments almost comes naturally for Hays High freshman Evan Bratton.
Several years ago, Bratton was with friends at an area water park when he helped a child in distress escape the current of a waterfall.
“I just had to help him out,” Bratton said.
That same mindset whirred through Bratton’s mind March 21 when he leapt into a part of Onion Creek at Camp Ben McCullough near Driftwood to save a four-year-old boy from drowning – all of it caught on camera.
Without hesitation, Bratton, who quickly realized the severity of the situation, immediately climbed down an embankment and leapt into Onion Creek to retrieve the boy.
The incident happened during Spring Break when Bratton and two of his friends took to Camp Ben to record themselves fishing for their YouTube video channel.
With a GoPro camera strapped to his chest, Bratton recorded the excursion, which had been going according to plan.
Things changed, however, when a young boy and his sister walked near a rope swing where the group had moved to fish. Seconds later, the boy grabbed the rope and swung into Onion Creek.
Bratton wasn’t initially sure if the boy could swim when he splashed in; it didn’t take long for Bratton to get his answer.
“I could kind of tell (he couldn’t swim) because he only stayed above water for a few seconds,” Bratton said.
Without hesitation, Bratton, who quickly realized the severity of the situation, immediately climbed down an embankment and leapt into Onion Creek to retrieve the boy. Within ten seconds, Bratton grabbed the boy out of the water and got him back on land. He and his friends then went and found the parents, who thanked them for the rescue.
Emily Bratton, Evan’s mother, said she first learned of the event during dinner that evening.
“At first he said, ‘I caught a kid,’ and I thought he had hooked a kid (while fishing). I asked, ‘did you get yelled at?” Emily Bratton said. “He (Evan) said, ‘No, I saved a kid from drowning.’”
Emily Bratton said the entire event was, essentially, an act of God.
Originally, the fishing group had planned to venture to Camp Ben the day before the rescue with their parents. Plans changed, however, and the trio was forced to delay their fishing excursion.
Had they not changed their plans, Evan Bratton wasn’t sure what would have happened to the boy. Emily Bratton said she shed tears of pride when she saw the video, and that the action was a testament to her son’s character.
Ever since then, Emily said her son has been the “humble hero.”
For Evan, saving a life is all part of the human experience.
“I’m just happy to do it,” Evan Bratton said.
