Heather Cassini, a mother from Massachusetts, is issuing a stark warning after her 10-year-old son Declan collapsed at Hampton Beach in New Hampshire on July 4. Despite the warm weather, Declan experienced hypothermia after playing in the ocean’s surprisingly cold waters, which were just 52 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cassini recounted the frightening experience in a now viral Facebook post, describing how Declan suddenly felt unwell and collapsed twice, prompting her to seek help from nearby sunbathers and nurses. “He’s going in and out of consciousness and vomiting,” Cassini recalled, highlighting the severity of the situation.
Reflecting on the incident, Cassini admitted, “I had no idea that this could happen. You think about sunburns and dehydration… but I never considered cold shock.” Thankfully, Declan recovered after receiving care from paramedics.
Cassini hopes her story serves as a cautionary tale, especially for parents whose children are resilient in water but may still be susceptible to its hidden dangers. She emphasized, “Just because they can handle it doesn’t mean they can handle it.”