Dramatic Bodycam Footage Captures Officers Rescuing Boy, 9, and Woman From an Icy Pond

Dramatic Bodycam Footage Captures Officers Rescuing Boy, 9, and Woman From an Icy Pond
(Courtesy of Aurora Illinois Police Department)
12/13/2022
Updated:
12/13/2022

Two Illinois police officers sustained minor injuries as they rescued a 9-year-old boy and a woman from drowning in an icy pond. Their efforts saved the pair and their dramatic rescue was recorded in its entirety on their body cameras.

On Nov. 23, just before 4:30 p.m., a 9-year-old boy fell into the frozen section of a retention pond at Fox Pointe in Aurora as he was trying to retrieve his football.

When Aurora’s 911 Telecommunications Center received a call for help from a child at the scene, they sent firefighters and police officers to the location immediately.

Body camera footage captures the dramatic rescue. (Courtesy of Aurora Illinois Police Department)
Body camera footage captures the dramatic rescue. (Courtesy of Aurora Illinois Police Department)

The two officers were first on the scene.

“[T]hey found a 9-year-old boy who had fallen through [the] ice and an adult woman who had gone in to attempt to save the child,” Aurora Illinois Police Department (AIPD) posted on Facebook.

Officers Darren Pedota, Victor Garcia, Vincent Nardone, and Adan Barraza deployed water rescue kits from their patrol vehicles. Meanwhile, officers Alex Lopez and Andrew Soderlund swam into the freezing water to reach the child, 9-year-old Tyshon, and an adult woman who had gotten into the icy waters in an attempt to save him. The officers first removed their bulletproof vests and heavier clothing to avoid being weighed down.

Illinois police officers attempt to rescue the boy who was stuck in the icy pond. (Courtesy of Aurora Illinois Police Department)
Illinois police officers attempt to rescue the boy who was stuck in the icy pond. (Courtesy of Aurora Illinois Police Department)

The officers’ body cameras recorded their lightning-fast response and the dramatic rescue through the icy waters as they reached for the exhausted pair. “In a combined effort, officers were able to safely return to land with the child and the woman,” AIPD wrote.

Tyshon’s mother, Mary Wilkins, who was at work when her son fell through the ice, was interviewed after his rescue. She told CNN she feared Tyshon was not going to be around to see Thanksgiving.

“I was so scared, and then when I got that call from down there saying he was not responding ... my mind was gone,” she said. “I thought my baby was not gonna be here ...”

Tyshon with his mother, Mary Wilkins. (Courtesy of Aurora Illinois Police Department)
Tyshon with his mother, Mary Wilkins. (Courtesy of Aurora Illinois Police Department)

After being rescued, Tyshon was transported to an area hospital by the Aurora Fire Department. He had sustained minor injuries. The woman who waded in after him was treated on-site and did not need hospital attention. Officers Lopez and Soderlund, who saved both their lives, sustained bumps and bruises from breaking the ice but were discharged from the hospital in stable condition.

Officer Lopez lost his wedding ring in the pond, and Tyshon never did get his football back. But the little boy survives to tell the tale thanks to the diligence of Aurora’s first responders, who returned to gift the young boy a brand-new football on Thanksgiving and share an emotional embrace with his grateful mother.

Watch the video of the dramatic rescue:

(Courtesy of Aurora Illinois Police Department)
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Louise Chambers is a writer, born and raised in London, England. She covers inspiring news and human interest stories.
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