Three Illinois state troopers jumped into the freezing water of a pond and smashed a car window to rescue a young family, including an infant. The family was trapped inside, slowly sinking beneath the surface.
“Break it, break it!” the officer can be heard saying on body camera footage, seconds before his partner smashes the window, sending glass flying into the water.
The startling footage begins last week as police sprint to the scene of an SUV crashing into a pond in the Chicago suburb of Naperville. Police officials announced this on Wednesday.
After confirming with witnesses that the family was unable to escape on their own, the officers jumped into the water without hesitation, despite the freezing temperatures that hit the state in the new year.
They desperately tried to pry the door open, but soon realized it wouldn't budge.
That's when they broke the window and climbed through the opening instead. This caused my frightened 2-year-old son to go into hysterics.
“It's okay, sweetie!” the father can be heard reassuring his daughter, even though his own fear remains in his voice.
One of the officers quickly brought the girl, whose car seat was submerged in waist-deep water, to safe land while her partner was able to open the front door for her parents. did.
By the time the couple was freed, they were submerged in chest-deep water.
“I'm sorry,” the woman said between sobs and violent tremors.
The family was treated and one of the rescuers was treated for minor cuts and cold exposure. WGN9 reported.
“Their ability to remain calm and do what was necessary to help this upset family is commendable,” police said in a statement.
Preliminary investigation suggests that the crash occurred after the driver of the SUV mistakenly pressed the gas and brake pedals.
The amazing rescue came just a week after Florida police and firefighters worked in a human chain to retrieve a car full of presents that had crashed into a waterway.
After first responders rescued a mother and three young children from the wreckage, they set off again in search of Christmas presents.
