The school said the incident occurred Saturday evening, when Shaw was attending a family party at his cousin's apartment in Palmdale, Calif. At one point, Shaw saw his nephew Carter, who cannot swim, struggling in the apartment complex's pool. With no one else nearby, Shaw jumped off the balcony onto the concrete below. Despite the pain, USC said Shaw was able to crawl into the pool and pull his nephew to safety before maneuvering himself out of the water.
Shaw was taken to the hospital where he was diagnosed with two high ankle sprains. He said Carter was traumatized, but physically in good shape.
Earlier in the evening, Shaw had been named a team captain. Now, he will be sidelined indefinitely due to his injuries.
"I would do it again for whatever kid it was, it did not have to be my nephew," Shaw told USC's 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."
"That was a heroic act by Josh, putting his personal safety aside," USC football coach Steve Sarkisian told the school's website. "But that's the kind of person he is. It is unfortunate that he'll be sidelined for a while and we will miss his leadership and play, but I know he'll be working hard to get back on the field as soon as possible."
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