According to coach Steve Sarkisian, The University of Southern California has received several inquiries questioning the authenticity of football player Josh Shaw’s story about saving his nephew from drowning. Moreover the USC announced on Monday that Shaw reportedly suffered high ankle sprains on both legs after jumping from a second-story balcony in order to save the 7-year old, who was all alone in the pool during a family party in Palmdale, Calif., on Saturday night.
Shaw is a team captain and a key starter in the Trojans’ secondary. “(Shaw’s) a good person, he’s a good kid,” Sarkisian told reporters on Tuesday. “He came to us with what had occurred Saturday night and I have no reason, no history to not believe Josh and his story and what has occurred. (…) Within the last few hours or so we have gotten a few phone calls contradicting what Josh said occurred Saturday night. We’re going to continue to vet it. We’re looking at it.”
As a consequence of the saving leap, Shaw injured both ankles. Having no witnesses, Shaw told USC’s website that he instinctively jumped from the balcony onto the concrete below and crawled to the pool, where he pulled Carter, his nephew, to safety. Unable to step out of the pool because of the pain in his ankles, Shaw lifted himself up the ladder with his upper body.
“I would do it again for whatever kid it was, it did not have to be my nephew,” Shaw told the team website. “My ankles really hurt, but I am lucky to be surrounded by the best trainers and doctors in the world. I am taking my rehab one day at a time, and I hope to be back on the field as soon as possible.”
But nevertheless a woman who identified herself as Shaw’s older sister, Asia, and the mother of the 7-year-old boy, said the USC football player allegedly saved from drowning called reports that Shaw was actually injured during a burglary “speculation.” Sara Faden, Public Information Officer for the Los Angeles Police Department, said there was a burglary that occurred at 11 p.m. Aug. 23 at the residence of a woman who identified herself as Josh Shaw’s girlfriend.
Asia Shaw said she was not at the family event during which Josh Shaw allegedly jumped from a balcony when he saw his nephew, Carter, fall into the pool. The boy cannot swim, Asia Shaw added.
