Dad gets saved by his 10-year-old twins and a neighbor using CPR technique they saw in movies

Ten-year-old twins, along with a neighbor, saved their father from drowning in a backyard pool by imitating iconic movie movements. Brad Hassig of Mountain Brook, Alabama, was in his pool on June 14 with his kids Christian and Bridon, 10, as well as their 11-year-old neighbor, Sam Ebert.

Hassig told TODAY Parents, "It was a typical afternoon—we had music on the speakers and I was doing breathing exercises underwater to relax. I wasn’t pushing myself or trying to be a Navy Seal." Hassig lost consciousness moments after drowning himself in five feet of water.

He told ABC 11, "I like to do breathing exercises. It's just, it's peaceful and relaxing. I love being underwater. I say the Lord's Prayer when I'm doing this. It's a kind of meditation. I don't remember finishing it." Bridon and Sam observed him bent down underwater in a cross-legged stance and notified Christian, who promptly strapped on his goggles and went underwater, according to Hassig.

Christian said, "He usually sits kind of like he's meditating. I could see he was shaking a bunch, then he just laid on his side. I told Bridon, 'Dad's not okay.'" Bridon recalled the moment, "Me and Sam dove into the water and I got one shoulder and he got the other. And we just like dragged him to the steps."

Bridon began resuscitating his father while Christian raced for aid. Christian knocked on neighbors' doors while their mother was at work, but no one responded. He ultimately went onto the street and called down a passing car, who then dialed 911.

Meanwhile, Bridon began attempting CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), an emergency maneuver comprising chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth respiration. He has no emergency training, but he remembered witnessing mouth-to-mouth in two movies, Hook and The Sandlot, so he imitated similar actions until the police and ambulance arrived. When Hassig woke up, he was coughing up blood, foam, and water. 

He recalled that Christian was screaming, "Daddy come back. You have to be OK," and there were people all around. Hassig was taken by ambulance to Grandview's emergency room, where he was admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit. Hassig's vitals stabilized after 24 hours, and he was discharged with a diagnosis of hypoxia, pulmonary edema, and shortness of breath. 

Hassig is extremely thankful and proud of his boys for saving his life. "I mean it's just emotions are just overwhelming you that your boys saved your life. There's no way physically that they should have been able to do what they did. They hadn't had the training to do what they did. To act as fast. To run as fast," he said. "As far, to know to flag down somebody, to call 911 while the other is doing CPR on you. I mean, it's just, it's a God thing."

Hassig resolved never to conduct underwater breathing exercises or swim alone again. He said, "My boys saved my life and it's hard because you put them in that position. It's confirmation that God is always with you." 

Hassig's boys will now receive formal CPR training, and he has given them cell phones in case of an emergency. He said, "I love them. And I'm very proud of them and grateful. I'll be grateful for the rest of my life."