From Tragedy to Triumph

Blake Collingsworth along with his wife Kathy are the founders and creators of the “Josh the Otter” Water Safety and Awareness Project. Listen in to hear their story. You will be encouraged by this family who has courageously “Walked their Talk” They are impacting this world through their unimaginable tragedy.

Listen NOW!

This Week’s Guest Blake and Kathy Collingsworth

Blake Collingsworth never wanted to be the person reminding people it can happen to them.That all it takes is one second, and your child can slip out of your sight.

“Everybody thinks they know, but they’ve got to remind themselves over and over,” he said. “It’s amazing, with kids, how fast it can happen.”

Collingsworth’s two-and-a-half year old son, Joshua, wandered outside Sunday evening during a family get-together at the Collingsworth home near Wilderness Ridge. His family had barely had time to realize he had slipped away when they found him floating in the backyard pool. Joshua was not breathing, and family members gave him CPR until an ambulance arrived to rush him to BryanLGH Medical Center West.He was flown by medical helicopter to Children’s Hospital in Omaha, where he died Wednesday evening, surrounded by family.

Joshua was “the happiest, prettiest little boy I’ve ever seen in my life,” his father said.

The Joshua Collingsworth Memorial Foundation was established on July 23, 2008.

About “Josh the Baby Otter”

“Josh the Baby Otter” was created to help children comprehend and remember this important message. Ultimately, we want to create a water safety behavior for all children that will be passed on from generation to generation.

We have already distributed several thousand copies of the book to daycares, preschools, and kindergarten classrooms across the country. With ongoing support, we will continue our efforts to incorporate this life saving message into every educational curriculum in the United States and beyond. We believe the book; “Josh the Baby Otter” has and will continue to save countless children’s lives.

Blake is an owner of Cameron Townhomes, based out of Lincoln, Nebraska and an active member of the Lincoln community while Kathy is the mother of Connor Collingsworth, and an active Lincoln community volunteer as well.