Who was Benjamin Luckett? Tennessee boy, 10, freezes to death after rescuing 6-year-old sister from icy pond
SHELBY, TENNESSEE: In a heartbreaking incident from Tennessee, a 10-year-old boy froze to death while trying to save his six-year-old sister who fell into a frozen pond during playtime.
As the fierce snowstorm sweeps through the country, Tennessee is one of the worst-affected states where ice and sleet are creating life-threatening situations for residents. Young Benjamin Luckett from Millington, Shelby County, was the unfortunate victim of the incident. His little sister, Abigail Luckett, was taken off the ventilator on Tuesday, February 16, and is now able to talk to her family, the children’s pastor said.
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Who is Abigail Luckett?
Abigail Luckett, 6, is the only daughter of Robert Luckett and his wife Christine. The couple lives in Millington, Shelby County in Tennessee with three children — Benjamin, Abigail, and another son.
On Sunday, February 14, as the temperature of Tennessee continued dropping to sub-zero levels, the Luckett siblings were enjoying some playtime in the snow near their home. Abigail was playing near a frozen pond with her brothers. She failed to assess how thin the ice layer was and suddenly fell into the freezing waters. Seeing his sister struggling to swim out of the ice-cold water, 10-year-old Benjamin immediately sprung to action and jumped in to save Abigail. However, both the children failed to swim out and continued struggling.
Their other brother frantically called their father for help, who pulled Abigail out of the water. However, he could not pull Benjamin out and sought the emergency help of Shelby County firefighters, who soon brought him out.
Both the children were then rushed to the Le Bonheur Children's Hospital where Benjamin was pronounced dead, reported Daily Mail. Abigail stayed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for two days, battling for her life. Ultimately, she emerged out of danger on Tuesday, February 16, as she was removed from the ventilator, the family pastor Stacey Stilgenbauer shared with the media.
How Benjamin saved his sister
Even though he was unable to get out of the freezing pond, all the while Benjamin tried to keep Abigail above the water. "So it's an incredibly sacrifice that he was willing to make to save his little sister (sic)," remarked Pastor Stilgenbauer. His presence of mind and love for his sister ultimately saved Abigail's life, but at a tremendous cost.
Ever since the news of Benjamin's tragic death came to light, the Luckett family was flooded with support and contributions from their community. Their family friend Chad Robertson even started a GoFundMe page to support Abigail's treatment costs and the funeral costs for Benjamin. The page has already managed to raise $21,614 out of the $25,000 goal amount.
Even amid the crisis, their mother Christine made sure to express her gratitude towards the people who are supporting them in these trying times.
Following the incident, the Shelby County Sheriff's Office issued a formal statement warning residents to stay safe and avoid the dangerous areas around frozen ponds and lakes. The winter storm is wreaking havoc across Tennessee and other parts of the US, and according to the Associated Press it has killed at least 30 people this week.
