NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A Rutherford County community is asking for a miracle. Asher Sullivan, the 10-year-old son of the county superintendent, was sucked into a drain Wednesday and is now fighting for his life.
According to a report from WSMV4 Nashville, it took place in a Christiana neighborhood off Rhonda Drive. Neighbors said Asher was in the drainage system for about 15 minutes until he got stuck by a branch.
Jimmy Sullivan, Asher's father, said Asher came out in a drainage ditch and CPR was administered for some time. He is currently at Vanderbilt University Medical Center with severely damaged lungs and brain.
On Friday, the father said they were told Asher wouldn't survive his injuries. However, he said there was still a sign of hope for his son.
"Neurology saw a few signs (small response to pain in one arm, and pupils reacting to light) of activity a little while ago so we aren’t giving up hope," he said.
On Thursday, hundreds of people went to the Rutherford County Schools Board of Education building to pray for Asher during a vigil.
“We all want to do something right now and the Sullivan family has requested that we pray and lift up Asher,” Dr. Kay Martin with Rutherford County Schools to start the event, said.
The community knows the family well given his father's position as the county school's director of schools.
At the same time, the Christiana neighborhood, where the Sullivans live, had a vigil of its own. WSMV4 spoke with one of the neighbors, Sandra Watts, who saw the aftermath.
“The water was like Niagara Falls,” she said. “It just took him.”
Neighbors told WSMV4 Asher lost his shoe in the water and went back for it. They said that’s when he was swept into the drainage system.
“You never thought you can go down the drain,” Watts said. “But he went down the drain and all the drains that’s under the streets.”
People nearby said he was gone for about 15 minutes and went about 500 yards, according to a report from WSMV4. They said he was found outside a storm drain near a neighboring home.
“One of his friends, he was all scraped up trying to save him,” Watts said. “It’s just very devastating.”
Neighbors also told WSMV4, the Sullivan family has been through a lot in recent years. They said their other son fought cancer and is currently in remission.