Effingham High School sophomore Bryden Kade first met his friend, Knox Pritchard of Lawrenceville, Ill., at church camp a few years ago. But neither one could’ve guessed that earlier this month, Bryden would take charge to save Knox’s life.
Shortly after church camp this year, Knox, 16, invited Bryden to join him and a handful of other friends to go swimming and ride ATVs in an abandoned quarry in Lawrenceville – something Knox and his friends have enjoyed in the past.
The boys were running around playing games, swimming and riding their vehicles, when Knox dove into the water. The water was a few feet shallower than normal, and he hit his head on the sand.
At first, when Knox was bobbing on the surface, his friends that were swimming thought he was playing a prank on them, until they realized something wasn’t right. They pulled his body out of the water. He was completely limp, he wasn’t breathing, and his lips were purple.
The boys called Bryden to come over, and he immediately began performing CPR on Knox – something he knew from health class. When Bryden got winded from doing chest compressions, Knox’s brother, Anthony, took over while Bryden performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
“He had no pulse, and he wasn’t breathing, and his lips were purple,” said Bryden. “We just knew it wasn’t good, and we had to act, or else our friend was going to die.”
Although Bryden was the one to start CPR right away, it was a group effort: Two of the boys left on ATVs to get help. Others called 9-1-1.
The boys were able to bring Knox back to life; they got a pulse and got him breathing again.
One of the friend’s dad’s came to them, loaded some of the boys on his ATV and met the ambulance at Allendale Gravel and Co. because the emergency vehicle couldn’t reach the quarry where they were at.
Knox was unable to move.
Bryden called his mother, Briana Kade, from a phone other than his own, so she didn’t recognize his voice right away because he was distraught. He told her what had happened, and she met the boys at a hospital in Vincennes, Ind..
“He told me, he goes: ‘Mom, he was dead. He had no pulse, no nothing. He was completely lifeless. He didn’t have oxygen for over three-and-a-half minutes,” said Briana. “I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, son. Is he breathing?’ He says: ‘Yeah, just a little bit … Mom, he was lifeless in my hands, my arms.’ I was a little dizzy.”
While Briana was on her way, she called Bryden’s grandparents, Chris Kade and Jo Ann McNaughton-Kade, to inform them of the situation. They were shocked and amazed.
Chris and Jo Ann mentioned that Bryden was quick to note that saving Knox was a group effort, specifically mentioning Anthony’s help with CPR.
“He just did exactly what you would hope any of us would be capable of doing, and he just kept a level head, and as a result, he saved this young man’s life,” said Chris. “I think there was a part of him that still couldn’t quite believe that he had saved someone who was clinically dead and brought him back to life.”
Bryden, Briana and the others stayed at the hospital until Knox was airlifted to a different hospital in Indianapolis, where he underwent surgery to stabilize his spine. He has a severe cervical spinal cord injury, which caused a severe injury in his neck and upper back.
According to the Knox’s Journey Facebook group, Knox is expected to undergo intensive in-patient rehabilitation, which is likely to require ongoing therapies, specialized equipment and long-term medical care. His medical team is focusing on protecting Knox’s spinal cord, managing swelling, supporting his breathing, maintaining healthy blood pressure and managing his pain.
From an August 3 update: “One of the most encouraging updates is that Knox is awake, responsive, smiling, and still finding ways to joke around and be silly with friends–even from his hospital bed. That smile has been a bright light during an incredibly difficult time.”
Knox’s mother was contacted for comment, but did not respond.
Multiple events and fundraisers have been and will be organized – such as bracelet sales and prayer vigils – to raise money and awareness for Knox and his family.
To see updates, follow “Knox’s Journey” on Facebook and his Go Fund Me page.