There’s no better way to beat the sweltering summer heat than spending a day at the beach. However, while the beach offers some relief from high temperatures, one mother from Massachusetts learned that it also poses its own set of unexpected dangers. Now, she’s determined to share her story and warn others about a risk many might overlook.

Even though the frightening incident occurred over a week ago, Heather Cassini says she is still “shaking” from the experience.

Cassini, 40, was spending the Fourth of July holiday at Hampton Beach in New Hampshire with her family. It was meant to be a relaxing day by the ocean, but things took a sudden turn when her 10-year-old son, Declan, began to feel unwell. At first, Cassini wasn’t overly worried. The weather was hot, and Declan had been playing in the ocean for quite some time.

“I thought it was just the combination of the heat and too much breakfast,” Cassini explained in a Facebook post that has since gone viral. “I figured he just needed to lie down and rest for a while.”

But as they made their way back from the water to let Declan rest, the situation escalated quickly. Declan became “disoriented” and, without warning, collapsed onto a nearby sunbather. Although he managed to stand back up briefly, he soon stumbled and fell to the ground again.

“I’m pregnant and frantically trying to pick him up,” Cassini told *Today.com*, recalling the panic she felt in that moment. “He was slipping in and out of consciousness, vomiting, and his skin was ghostly pale.”

A group of women seated nearby saw the commotion and rushed over to help. Some of them, as it turned out, were nurses. They quickly sprang into action, checking Declan’s vital signs and working to keep him warm and conscious.

“God bless all the people around us. There were so many nurses,” Cassini said, expressing her gratitude for the strangers who came to their aid.

After what felt like an eternity, Declan began to regain his strength and started talking again. “We waited for him to feel better, and once he was stable, we got him back to the car,” Cassini wrote.

Later, it was confirmed that Declan had suffered from hypothermia. Despite the fact that it was a hot summer day, the ocean water was only 52 degrees, cold enough to induce hypothermia after prolonged exposure.

“I had no idea this could happen,” Cassini admitted. “When you think about potential beach dangers, you worry about things like sunburns, dehydration, or riptides. Cold shock or hypothermia just never crossed my mind.”

Now that Declan has made a full recovery, Cassini is using her experience to raise awareness and caution others. She wants parents to be especially vigilant about the risk of cold shock, even during the hottest summer days.

“Just because kids say they’re fine or love the water doesn’t mean they can actually handle it,” Cassini warned in her post. “This is a reminder to everyone, especially those with children, to be aware of the signs of hypothermia and the dangers of cold water.”

For many, the idea of getting hypothermia in the middle of summer seems counterintuitive. But as Cassini’s story highlights, it’s a very real possibility, even when the sun is shining and the air is warm. The combination of cool water and prolonged exposure can have serious consequences, and it’s something more people should be aware of.

“I had no idea you could get hypothermia on a hot summer day,” Cassini added. “It’s such an important message for everyone, not just parents.”

Her story is a powerful reminder that, no matter the season, safety at the beach requires vigilance and awareness of all the risks, not just the obvious ones.