A Massachusetts mother, Heather Cassini, is warning others about the dangers of cold water after her 10-year-old son, Declan, collapsed while playing in the ocean at Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, on July 4. Declan, who had been playing in the 52°F ocean water, suddenly felt ill, became disoriented, collapsed, and started vomiting.
Paramedics later determined he had hypothermia. Cassini, shocked by the experience, wants to alert others that cold shock can occur even in summer, especially when kids play in cold water, and emphasizes that just because someone can handle cold water doesn’t mean they’re immune to its effects.