Saved Drowning Boy, Killed my Phone

[Darin]

OK, so here's the story. Yesterday my wife and I, along with our boys, went to a birthday pool party. The party started out in the house for the first 15 minutes or so while guests were arriving, then after that we headed out into the backyard where the pool was.

As we went into the backyard kids just started jumping in the pool like flies on candy, next thing I know I see who of the kids laughing saying, "You can't swim, what are you doing." I look over and one of the other kids is trying to hold a smaller 3 or 4 year old boy who is going under. I don't know this kid, so I quickly ask, "Can that kid swim?!" And just as I'm saying that, he goes under water to the bottom. Not even thinking, I dive it, grab the kid, and bring him to the decking on the other side of the pool.
Yay!! Until I get out of the phone and remember, uh, my new Incredible!!

Least to say, I think it may be toast. I immediately gave it to my wife who removed the battery, SD card, and put everything in rice. Then after letting it soak for quite some time, I put a hot blow dryer on it until the fog disappeared from the screen. Then finally today, I put it under a desk lamp for a few hours.

Anyway... none of that worked. When I put the battery back in, all I get when I push the power is a single vibration and then nothing else. If I plug the phone in like I'm charging it, it looks like its charging, but nothing (same thing still happens when I push the power button).

I called Verizon, and they're by the book, "You didn't have insurance so you're going to have to buy a new retail $540". Ouch... Any one have thoughts, ideas, remedies?

The HTC Incredible was my graduation present for getting my BS Degree in Computer Science... probably the best present I've ever gotten besides my PS3.

I'm going to send an e-mail to HTC too, just in case.

- Darin

 

[longdaddy]

Sorry to hear about your phone man but hey you was doing a good deed and saving a life. That would be my instinct as well not thinking and jumping in to get the kid.

 

[jiggs49us]

If that would have been my child - I would have bought you a new phone of whatever you wanted. I wish you good luck.

 

[iowabowtech]

If that would have been my child - I would have bought you a new phone of whatever you wanted. I wish you good luck.

No doubt. Whatever happens, you are the man in my book.

 

[golfinglenn]

Couldn't hurt to ask the parents of the kid for a donation. The other option is to check with the homeowners and have them check their homeowners insurance. Often the deductibles are low ($250?) and might cover just such an incident. Couldn't hurt to check.

 

[bjanow]

$500 for a little kid's life? Best money you ever spent. Dip in and buy a new one and spend $6/month for insurance. Congrats dude, ya did good.

 

[clipperqb]

That was an awesome thing you did. I'm sure its not something you ran to the parents about, but do they understand what you did and how much this phone costs? Even the homeowners for that matter.

 

[gruss]

If that would have been my child - I would have bought you a new phone of whatever you wanted. I wish you good luck.

+1 !

 

[Dobieg]

i've heard others say that putting the phone in a bag of rice, completely submerged, for 4-5 days may do the trick. fingers crossed for you.

you should set up a paypal donation site. might get a couple of bucks here and there. something like this should be rewarded! you did a good thing.

 

[barrister89]

I can imagine that it would be awkward to ask the parents directly to reimburse you for your phone. However, maybe word can "get around" through the grapevine that your expensive phone was ruined during the rescue. I would hope that if it did the parents would rush over to pay for a replacement.

Anyway, I've got a feeling you will somehow be rewarded for your deed.

 

[GrandMasterB]

I can imagine that it would be awkward to ask the parents directly to reimburse you for your phone. However, maybe word can "get around" through the grapevine that your expensive phone was ruined during the rescue. I would hope that if it did the parents would rush over to pay for a replacement.

Anyway, I've got a feeling you will somehow be rewarded for your deed.

+1 I can promise you this will not be overlooked. Karma has its ways

 

[iowabowtech]

+1 i can promise you this will not be overlooked. Karma has its ways

+1000.

 

[zeke88]

OK, so here's the story. Yesterday my wife and I, along with our boys, went to a birthday pool party. The party started out in the house for the first 15 minutes or so while guests were arriving, then after that we headed out into the backyard where the pool was.

As we went into the backyard kids just started jumping in the pool like flies on candy, next thing I know I see who of the kids laughing saying, "You can't swim, what are you doing." I look over and one of the other kids is trying to hold a smaller 3 or 4 year old boy who is going under. I don't know this kid, so I quickly ask, "Can that kid swim?!" And just as I'm saying that, he goes under water to the bottom. Not even thinking, I dive it, grab the kid, and bring him to the decking on the other side of the pool.
Yay!! Until I get out of the phone and remember, uh, my new Incredible!!

Least to say, I think it may be toast. I immediately gave it to my wife who removed the battery, SD card, and put everything in rice. Then after letting it soak for quite some time, I put a hot blow dryer on it until the fog disappeared from the screen. Then finally today, I put it under a desk lamp for a few hours.

Anyway... none of that worked. When I put the battery back in, all I get when I push the power is a single vibration and then nothing else. If I plug the phone in like I'm charging it, it looks like its charging, but nothing (same thing still happens when I push the power button).

I called Verizon, and they're by the book, "You didn't have insurance so you're going to have to buy a new retail $540". Ouch... Any one have thoughts, ideas, remedies?

The HTC Incredible was my graduation present for getting my BS Degree in Computer Science... probably the best present I've ever gotten besides my PS3.

I'm going to send an e-mail to HTC too, just in case.

- Darin

what about repair? my friend sent in his htc diamond 2 for repair, cost $100.

 

[NFaith8]

W.O.W.!
Yep, no doubt Karma will pick in... and I wish you luck on drying this one out.

 

[34.50]

That's an awesome story. Phones are just phones, and replaceable, but saving that kid's life = priceless. I'm sure you'll be rewarded

 

[Darin]

I know I did the right thing, especially if you knew how much I loved my new phone. I wasn't even thinking, I just jumped in the pool, then when I got out I thought to myself, "Please don't tell me my phone was in my shorts?" I checked my shorts and sure enough, there it was... I was debating whether to just fall into the pool and stay on the bottom.

Anyway, some new developments. I plugged my phone into my USB port on my computer and powered it on; and althought the screen didn't come on, my computer recognized the phone right away (althought I can't access either the internal memory or the SD Card). I thought that was odd that it recognized the phone on my USB port.

So I figured I would try some blind functionality. I unlocked the phone by pushing the menu button twice, turned up the volume, and then called it from my home phone. The cellphone starting ringing, and I was able to answer it by sliding my finger down the screen as if there was an imaginary bar there. The phone answered, and I was able to talk to myself.

Anyway, I informed the family of the boy who almost drown, and they are willing to cover the cost of a new phone (though I don't believe they know how much it's going to cost them - that's the next call).


- Darin

 

[CREVZ21]

Good to hear you did a great thing. Sucks about the phone but good job.

 

[behrooz]

OK, so here's the story. Yesterday my wife and I, along with our boys, went to a birthday pool party. The party started out in the house for the first 15 minutes or so while guests were arriving, then after that we headed out into the backyard where the pool was.

As we went into the backyard kids just started jumping in the pool like flies on candy, next thing I know I see who of the kids laughing saying, "You can't swim, what are you doing." I look over and one of the other kids is trying to hold a smaller 3 or 4 year old boy who is going under. I don't know this kid, so I quickly ask, "Can that kid swim?!" And just as I'm saying that, he goes under water to the bottom. Not even thinking, I dive it, grab the kid, and bring him to the decking on the other side of the pool.
Yay!! Until I get out of the phone and remember, uh, my new Incredible!!

Least to say, I think it may be toast. I immediately gave it to my wife who removed the battery, SD card, and put everything in rice. Then after letting it soak for quite some time, I put a hot blow dryer on it until the fog disappeared from the screen. Then finally today, I put it under a desk lamp for a few hours.

Anyway... none of that worked. When I put the battery back in, all I get when I push the power is a single vibration and then nothing else. If I plug the phone in like I'm charging it, it looks like its charging, but nothing (same thing still happens when I push the power button).

I called Verizon, and they're by the book, "You didn't have insurance so you're going to have to buy a new retail $540". Ouch... Any one have thoughts, ideas, remedies?

The HTC Incredible was my graduation present for getting my BS Degree in Computer Science... probably the best present I've ever gotten besides my PS3.

I'm going to send an e-mail to HTC too, just in case.

- Darin

What an amazing thing you did for the kid and his family! You ROCK ! !

try talking to VZW again and ask to talk to a sup and see if they can get you a 1 yr pricing.

 

[CIMYA89]

You will be heavily rewarded in heaven and although you may not see it now but god will truly bless you for what you have done......take a bow cause you deserve it

 

[fortesquieu]

I'd say we all chip in for the repair costs?

 

[robo123]

I know I did the right thing, especially if you knew how much I loved my new phone. I wasn't even thinking, I just jumped in the pool, then when I got out I thought to myself, "Please don't tell me my phone was in my shorts?" I checked my shorts and sure enough, there it was... I was debating whether to just fall into the pool and stay on the bottom.

Anyway, some new developments. I plugged my phone into my USB port on my computer and powered it on; and althought the screen didn't come on, my computer recognized the phone right away (althought I can't access either the internal memory or the SD Card). I thought that was odd that it recognized the phone on my USB port.

So I figured I would try some blind functionality. I unlocked the phone by pushing the menu button twice, turned up the volume, and then called it from my home phone. The cellphone starting ringing, and I was able to answer it by sliding my finger down the screen as if there was an imaginary bar there. The phone answered, and I was able to talk to myself.

Anyway, I informed the family of the boy who almost drown, and they are willing to cover the cost of a new phone (though I don't believe they know how much it's going to cost them - that's the next call).


- Darin

That must have been a pretty awkward conversation. "hey huh, remember how I saved your kids life the other day?...um...well,....I was just wondering...etc." Hopefully they help you out, but regardless, you definitely did the right thing, and I agree with everyone else that in some way, you will be rewarded.

 

[birthofahero]

I know I did the right thing, especially if you knew how much I loved my new phone. I wasn't even thinking, I just jumped in the pool, then when I got out I thought to myself, "Please don't tell me my phone was in my shorts?" I checked my shorts and sure enough, there it was... I was debating whether to just fall into the pool and stay on the bottom.

Anyway, some new developments. I plugged my phone into my USB port on my computer and powered it on; and althought the screen didn't come on, my computer recognized the phone right away (althought I can't access either the internal memory or the SD Card). I thought that was odd that it recognized the phone on my USB port.

So I figured I would try some blind functionality. I unlocked the phone by pushing the menu button twice, turned up the volume, and then called it from my home phone. The cellphone starting ringing, and I was able to answer it by sliding my finger down the screen as if there was an imaginary bar there. The phone answered, and I was able to talk to myself.

Anyway, I informed the family of the boy who almost drown, and they are willing to cover the cost of a new phone (though I don't believe they know how much it's going to cost them - that's the next call).


- Darin

How did that conversation go?

 

[behrooz]

I'd say we all chip in for the repair costs?

I agree, If you have PayPal I'll send you some, I don't have a lot but for you, let me know

)O(

 

[fortesquieu]

I agree, If you have PayPal I'll send you some, I don't have a lot but for you, let me know

)O(

Me too, little by little adds up. If we have enough people, then we can think of a way to do this.

 

[jrs6494]

This is actually my first post on here but I had to say something. That was a very heroic thing you did saving that boy. If you made a paypal donation page I would surely donate to your new phone.

You would be surprised if just a bunch of people donated $5 to $10 how fast you would have your knew phone. Congrats and I hope all works out with a new phone.