Dad breathes breath of life.

Like millions of other American families have done, the Pipkin family from New Jersey went to Orlando, Florida, in July to visit Walt Disney World. But a freak occurrence on July 20 almost turned their dream vacation into a tragedy.

Sharif Pipkin was relaxing by the pool when he noticed that his 14-year-old son, Aljuwon, seemed to be stuck at the bottom of the hot tub. He would learn later that a grate at the bottom of the tub had broken, creating a strong suction that pulled Aljuwon under water.

"I get chills now even speaking about it," Mr. Pipkin told WKMG (Local 6) News in Orlando. "It was truly a traumatic moment. I figured he was at the bottom and they just couldn't pull him up and then he didn't come up. And, I pulled again and he didn't come up. I began to holler for help from people."

Knowing that time was running out, Mr. Pipkin dove to the bottom and started breathing air directly into his son's mouth. Aljuwon was finally freed after spending seven minutes underwater. It is unlikely he would have survived without severe brain damage had his father not supplied him with air from his own breath.

Aljuwon was taken to Florida Hospital South and after viewing brain scans, doctors feared the worst. But when the teen was released seven days after the incident, the diagnosis indicated that there was no permanent brain damage.

"The fact that he woke up at all is being considered a miracle," observed Local 6 news reporter Jessica Sanchez.