Community Corner
Baby Deer Falls Into Pool; Saved By St. James Boy: Video
Watch as 12-year-old Anthony Masaitis pulls a baby deer out from a swimming pool. "He makes us proud everyday!" his father said.
ST. JAMES, NY — A baby deer fell into a St. James pool and couldn't seem to get out on her own. Thankfully for the fawn, Gregory Masaitis and his 12-year-old son, Anthony, were there to save her life.
The deer can be seen falling into the water before being rescued by Anthony in a TikTok video that has gone viral.
My son Anthony saving a one day old deer from our pool! #wildlife #compassionate #whitetaildeer #swimmingpool #deer #deertiktok #themasaitisteam #masaitisteamrealestate #realtorgregmasaitis pic.twitter.com/sHVKtrtBsx
— Greg Masaitis (@MasaitisTeam) June 6, 2023
The 83-second clip, posted by Masaitis on his account, GregMasaitis_realestate, starts with him holding the camera as he watches the baby deer walk toward his in-ground pool.
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"She's like a day old," Masaitis says. "I hope she doesn't fall in the pool or I'm gonna have to go get her."
Masaitis could barely finish his sentence as he gasped when the deer slipped into the pool.
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"We'll see if she gets out," he tells his son, Anthony.
The deer starts swimming around the pool when Gregory urges his son to go rescue her.
Anthony tracked the deer to the other side of the pool, and, after the slippery deer fell out of his arms once, grabbed the baby and placed her on the patio. Gregory told his son to let the deer down immediately, as the mother deer "is not going to be happy."
The baby deer could be seen falling while trying to regain her footing and eventually plops down and looks around.
"Leave her," Gregory said. "Just back up and let's get away from her. Let her mother come take care of her. Because she's looking for the mother."
Gregory tells his son to return to him by the other side of the pool. Anthony, re-entering the shot, exclaims, "I just saved a little baby!"
The video ends with the deer crying out for her mother. The TikTok upload has 2.6 million likes.
"I am very proud of my son Anthony, not even for his quick response here but for everything he does and who he is!" Gregory told Patch. "He makes us proud everyday!"
Hours later, the Masaitis family said they saw the doe and fawn together again in their backyard woods, according to the Smithtown Central School District. Anthony is taking his newfound fame in stride.
"My friends are like, 'You're famous. Can I have your autograph?'" Anthony said.
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