Thirteen-year-old saves brother

by G.E. Twine
     
     WATERFORD - Justine Sterry, 13, didn't expect to be a hero last Saturday. She just went with her family on a weekend of fun at camp.
     But Justine's quick thinking and effective action saved her six-year-old brother's life when he fell through the ice into frigid Chain Pond in Eustis.
     "I was scared. I thought that I was going to die," says Garrett. "I got out just in time."
     The two children live in Waterford with their mother Gail. On Friday Garrett and Justine traveled to Eustis with their Grandmother, Nancy Ashley, Grandfather, Tom Tobin, and uncle and aunt Tim and Brenda Tobin, to spend some time at their camp on Chain Pond in Eustis and to do some ice fishing.
     Garrett was up and excited early Saturday. He went out with his Grandfather, "Bumpy," to drill holes and set traps.
     Garrett's biggest concern was for the tiny fish that were being used for bait. They were "cute" and he wanted to keep one for a pet, he says.
     Around noon the children's grandfather went back to camp by snowmobile and picked-up Justine and brought her onto the ice. But, when she got out to their fishing location there were no flags.
     Justine and Garrett stood around, waiting for something to happen. Finally the boundless energy of a six-year-old began to get to Garrett. The two spied an interesting sight. Not too far away the top of a sandbar poked up through the ice - it had to be investigated. The youngsters went over to the sand bar, and while probing the pile of sand with their booted feet, the near tragedy took place.
     The ice nearest the sand was thin, and all of a sudden it broke under Garrett.
     "He fell into the water," recalls Justine.
     It all happened so fast - she says it seemed like two seconds - Garrett was in the water up to his chest. His feet could not touch bottom. He kicked and cried. He had no way of saving himself. Then, just as suddenly, the ice went out from under Justine's feet and she too was in the cold water up to her waist and her feet also did not find the bottom.
     As luck would have it, her uncle was still checking traps and her grandfather had gone back to shore to get his wife.
     Justine stretched her arms out and found solid ice. Garrett grabbed his big sister by her waist. But that was not going to work. Justine decided she had to turn around to get out. Garrett seemed to sense that letting go - at least for a moment - was okay. Fortunately there was snow on the ice and it was not slippery. Garrett let go and Justine turned and was able to lift herself up into a sitting position on the edge of the solid ice. As soon as she was secure she grabbed her brother by his jacket and pulled him safely up beside her.
     The two children were soaking wet and shivering. Garrett was still crying, while nervousness was making Justine laugh. By now the adult family members were on the scene.
     "Grandpa had big eyes and said, 'Oh, my God,"' says Justine.
     "My feet felt like ice cubes," says Garrett.
     The adults packed them onto the snowmobile and headed for the camp. Justine says that she can't even remember the cold air from the swift ride.
     As the story of the accident and the rescue was told, their Grandmother, who had remained in the camp, responded with, "I'm glad I was not there, I would've freaked."
     "When they told me I couldn't believe it," says their mother, Gail. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost one of them."
     When asked, both children say they learned the same lesson, "never go near a hole in the ice again."
     "I'm thankful to my sister," Garrett said, as he turned to Justine and said, "Thank-you," and then kissed his big sister.