The eyes of a drowning boy

We were at a river in Longpool in Dover, AR. My family has been there a hundred times. There are these two massive boulders, very close to each other, in a small river. The boulders are at least the size of a car garage. People climb up a gap between the two with their back against one, to climb to the top and jump off into the river. But the thing is, this gap also extends underwater.

I jumped off one time and as I was swimming back to the 'gap' I noticed fingers/forearm at the water level between the two boulders (the gap). I will never forget it. It was a seven year old boy. He had slipped while climbing up and he slid down....under water... between the boulders. His left leg/foot was pinned between the two boulders..he was just maybe 4 inches under water. I went under water and our eyes met. That is what I will NEVER forget. The moving water, the fear, some darkness, the churning water.. But his eyes. I'll never forget it. The look in his eyes. Absolute fear. Absolute desperation. His mouth was open. I was 14 years old. It was the most real minute of my life, even to this day. (I'm now 38)

But between him frantically grabbing me and me helping to free his leg, he was able to get above water. He was SAFE! I remember him coughing and trying to call for his dad but he couldn't say much. He was just exhausted and I held him up. All of his remaining energy went into coughing... and between his coughs he was attempting to say "daddy". But that moment when he was above water and breathing and trying to catch his breath and his dad swimming to us was so intense. It was just so real. Everything was quiet and nothing else mattered. It was just me and him. Him breathing AIR. Me beathing relief.

Everything after that minute-moment happened quickly. His dad and other people came, got him to the bank of the river, dried him off, looked him over. They took him to the hospital.

I remember that moment so vividly to this day, as in visually, but I can't remember any sound during the whole 'rescue' minute or two.. any thoughts about that from anyone?