[DiamondSmiles]

Hero boy, 4, dies after saving 3-year-old girl in pool
Courtesy of the Vento family

Xander Vento's family: "We in some way hope our son's life serves as an inspiration."

By NBC News staff

The parents of Xander Vento, a little boy who was forced under the water while saving another child at a neighborhood pool in Fort Worth, Texas, earlier this week, say they are taking their son off life support.

Cris and Misty Vento released the following statement Thursday:

"We’ve made the extremely difficult decision to remove our precious son Xander from life support. We send heartfelt thanks to all of you who kept our family in your thoughts and prayers; we’re appreciative of your love and support.

We in some way hope our son’s life serves as an inspiration. He was the angel in the pool who sacrificed himself to save another. And now he continues to give as an organ donor. We were blessed to have such a kind and caring boy as Xander who set an example for all of us and even now he will be saving lives by giving of himself."

Zander, 4, held a struggling 3-year-old girl above the water, and after becoming exhausted, slipped below the water’s surface, the Associated Press reported.

He was found at the bottom of the pool. After Xander was pulled from the water, rescuers did get a pulse from him, the Dallas Morning News reported, but he was unable to breathe on his own before they loaded him into a helicopter.

Xander was hospitalized at Cook Children’s Medical center, where he fell into a coma. He had been on life support since Monday.

Adults were present at the pool during the incident, including an off-duty nurse who helped rescue the children, according to the Dallas Morning News. It wasn’t clear where the adults were when the incident happened.

The 3-year-old girl, whose name has not been released, apparently swallowed water but never lost consciousness.

A fund has been established in Xander's name to help the family with medical expenses. Anyone wishing to contribute can do so online at https://www.wepay.com/donations/145080.

*I find this sad if the little girl told the rescuers that a boy helped her, they just left him there to drown. Normally, a 3 year old would be able to communicate that fact.*

[Megamel29]

That's devastating. What a brave little boy.

[sinblend]

hero indeed.
would that i could die so nobly.

[bluepinktriangle]

What kind of name is Xander? How the hell do u even pronounce it?

Sad Story, he aint a hero, but he was a brave lil kid, I just hope the parents don't milk it.

[mcpronoun]

^^Xander-(Zander)...

I hate to see news like this, makes me hug my own children every day and tell them I love them.

[bluepinktriangle]

Originally Posted by mpcronin ↗

^^Xander-(Zander)...

[mcpronoun]

You're welcome.

[TwistedPrincess]

how sad. don't parents know that young children need to be watched every second they are around a pool? shame on the parents of both the girl and the boy.

[Flaka]

where were the parents? he's been on life support for less than a week and already they want to give up and take him off?

not trying to be judgemental but damn, try to have some hope rather than pulling the plug so soon

[ices]

Originally Posted by Flaka ↗

where were the parents? he's been on life support for less than a week and already they want to give up and take him off?

not trying to be judgemental but damn, try to have some hope rather than pulling the plug so soon

The doctors and other medical professionals were probably saying he is brain dead, or just a no-hoper. They do that a lot.

And then there are the vultures who say it costs too much and that we need the facilities for others.