Courtesy PhotoThe Malionek family is all smiles on their trip to the Dominican Republic after twice averting tragedies involving son Joseph’s (right) near-drowning in a swimming accident. David and Kendra, mom and dad, are flanked by daughters Nicole and Jillian.

SALEM, Mass. — When Mark Brewer, 46, noticed his friend Joseph Malionek, 21, sinking to the bottom of the pool, he had the training and presence of mind to realize he was in trouble, to pull him out and to bring him back to consciousness.

“He grabbed him in one swoop,” says Malionek’s mother Kendra. “Like Superman. I swear.”

Soon, Joseph was on dry land, coughing up water and coming back to consciousness. After some moments, his color began to return and he was soon on his feet again. “Everything was back to normal,” says Kendra. “I was breathing a sigh of relief.”

That’s when Brewer offered a caution. “He talked to me about dry drowning. Or delayed drowning.”

It’s something everyone should be aware of, Kendra believes, and it’s why she has decided to tell the story. A person, especially a child, seemingly saved from drowning can literally drown sometime later while on dry land. Water in the lungs is often the culprit.

“When you pass out underwater, you inhale water,” explains Brewer, a veteran Beverly, Massachusetts firefighter and former Beverly police officer. At poolside, “I realized this is far from over.” He warned Joseph’s father, David, “He could still die. … I told him the next 24 to 48 hours is very critical.” He urged that Joseph be taken to the hospital. 

“I would say that anyone who’s inhaled a significant amount of water needs to be checked out.” Also certified as a scuba diver, Brewer has been trained to look for the possibility of dry drowning or secondary drowning.

‘It was the scariest thing’

The near drowning of Joseph Malionek happened during a vacation late last month at the Punta Cana Dreams, Spa Resort in the Dominican Republic. Brewer was part of a contingent of 44 North Shore friends and family making the trip, ostensibly to celebrate the fact that a bunch of former Salem High students, Kendra included, were turning 50. Family came too, including husband David Malionek and siblings Joseph, Nicole, 23 and Jillian, 15. 

On the second day, the resort staff organized a competition in the pool to see who could swim the furthest underwater. Here Joseph’s athleticism and determination was his undoing as he just kept swimming until he was gulping water instead of air.

“He stayed under too long,” says Kendra, who was standing at poolside, watching. 

Standing in the water, Brewer was first to realize the danger. “He was at the bottom of the pool. And I knew he wasn’t joking around.” Moving toward him, “I pinched him and he didn’t respond.” Pulling him above the water, “I could see he was unconscious.” He began the process of reviving him even before getting him out of the water. “I gave him a couple of Heimlich maneuver thrusts. 

On land, Joseph was laid first on his back and then on his side. “He was white as a ghost,” says his mother. “It was the scariest thing. … I was screaming, ‘Give him CPR.’ ”

“No,” said Brewer. “He doesn’t need CPR. He’s breathing. We need to get the water out of his lungs.” He gave a series of back blows and strong rubs to the sternum, causing him to spit up water. Slowly Joseph began to regain consciousness. “He didn’t remember a thing.”

“He was still weak,” says Kendra. “We sat him up in a chair. … A few minutes and he was feeling better.”

With Brewer’s warning about secondary drowning, Kendra recalled having heard of it before. “But I didn’t realize when he was walking around an hour later that he was still a candidate for it. … When they go to sleep at night is when it’s especially dangerous.” Yet, after a chest X-ray at a nearby hospital, blood work revealed a worrisome drop in his oxygen level. It was enough to keep him overnight on oxygen and an intravenous drip.

Joseph took all this in stride, says Kendra, deciding later that, despite the trouble, this was the best vacation ever. 

Kendra says of Brewer, “There’s no question he saved Joseph’s life — not once, but twice.” And she surprised herself, remaining cool-headed. “I would have thought I’d have been hysterical.”

She also stayed at the hospital. “I sat there watching him breathe. All night.”