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A police officer with the Jonesboro Police Department in Arkansas recently demonstrated his bravery by rescuing a young child who fell into a frozen pond and nearly drowned. The entire ordeal was captured on the officer’s body-worn camera.
According to police, the department received a distress call around 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 20, reporting that a child had fallen through the ice on a pond at the Gladiola Estates apartment complex.
Officer Troy Ellison, who happened to be the closest officer at the time, swiftly responded to the scene, knowing that every second counted in the race to save a life.
“I had never done anything like that before but what was going through my mind is just, you know, he’s asking for help,” he told K8 News.
Upon arrival, Ellison wasted no time. Despite the freezing temperatures, the officer crawled across the thin ice. Body-camera footage released by the Jonesboro Police Department captured the intense moment as he reached the child, who was clinging desperately to the edge of the ice with his body submerged in the frigid water.
Neighbors, including Jazmin Kary, who heard the child’s cries for help, had also rushed to the scene.
Kary described her instinctive response: “First thought that ran through my head was, ‘I know that baby is scared, I’ve gotta get to him,’” she told K8.
Despite her attempts to assist using a stick and then attempting to reach the child herself, the treacherous conditions prevented her from getting closer.
However, Ellison’s arrival provided a glimmer of hope as he ventured onto the ice-covered pond.
With the assistance of Lieutenant Shon Morris and members of the Jonesboro Fire Department, Ellison managed to carefully navigate the hazardous terrain. He then used a rope to pull the child to safety, averting what could have been a tragic outcome.
“It was definitely heartwarming to see him get pulled out and see that he was okay and breathing and fine,” Kary said following the rescue.
The child, who was immediately taken to the hospital for evaluation of weather-related injuries, is expected to make a full recovery.
Ellison shared an update from the child’s mother: “[His mother] said he’s smiling now, you know, there’s gonna be no long-lasting consequences.”
He added that the child vowed to never venture onto thin ice again.
In the aftermath of the harrowing ordeal, the Jonesboro Police Department issued a reminder to the community, urging caution against the dangers of playing on icy surfaces this winter.
“Be mindful that no matter how cold the temperatures get this winter, playing on the ice is never safe,” said a post by the department on Facebook. “Luckily, this call had a very happy ending.”
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