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A boy in Brownsville nearly drowns at a pond at the Brownsville Sports Park, but is plucked out of the water by a teenager playing nearby.

Witnesses said the pond is a hazard and want the city to take preventative measures to protect the youth who frequent the area.

Fourteen-year-old Manuel Alaniz jumped in after the 6-year-old boy even though he couldn't swim and if it wasn't for him and a few adults at the park he said the child could have drowned.

"I didn't want the kid to die," said Manuel.

Manuel was at the Brownsville Sports Park when he saw a boy in the water and another child reaching for him.

"I took off my shoes and jumped in for him," said Manuel.

Only able to doggy paddle, Manuel said he made his way toward the little boy.

"As long as the kid is safe, that's why I went in there," said Manuel.

It all happened near the sports park soccer fields.

There's a playground nearby where small children frequently play and just feet away is a pond with easy access.

Manuel said he struggled to get back out of the water with the child.

But with the help of a few adults at the park, they were both safely pulled out of danger.

Manuel's mother says when she got the call from him, she was mortified.

"It's sad to know that something like this could happen," said Rosaura Alaniz.

She said the boy's parents told her they were watching another child playing soccer when it happened.

It's a distraction that could have been costly, and it's something Alaniz said she's all too familiar with.

"Things can happen at any second," she said.

Alaniz said her daughter  fell into the water at Los Puentes Bridge, and she has a scar to prove it.

Alaniz said she thinks the city should do something to prevent an accident from happening at the park.

"Fence it where little ones aren't allowed to touch the water," she said.

But not everyone agrees that’s the best answer, Luis Maya said kids will be kids---fence or not.

We are not suppose to allow them to play by themselves," said Maya.

Maya suggests putting up warning signs.

Action 4 news could not reach the City of Brownsville for comment because they are closed for the weekend, but of course we will follow up during the week to hear their response to the concerned parents.