'You're a Champ, Bro': Watch Fla. Police Save Boy, Dad in Flipped SUV
Source Officer.com News
What to know
- Tampa police officers responded to a May 19 rollover crash and quickly rescued a 7-year-old boy and his father trapped inside an overturned SUV.
- Bodycam footage shows officers cutting airbags, prioritizing the child’s safety and safely removing both occupants with minimal injuries.
- Police credited seat belts for preventing serious harm and praised the officers’ swift, coordinated response.
Florida police officers are being praised for their quick actions last month, saving a 7-year-old boy and his dad who were trapped in an SUV involved in a rollover crash.
The rescue happened shortly after 12:30 p.m. May 19 in Tampa when an SUV overturned, with half of the vehicle on top of a smaller car, WTSP-TV reports. When police arrived at the scene, officers checked on the SUV's driver before getting on top of the smaller car in order to open the SUV's front passenger-side door. Tampa police released body camera footage from the rescue on social media.
Inside the SUV, the airbags had deployed following the crash, and a man and a boy, 7, were still inside. One officer cut away the airbags, but the man in the front seat asked the officer to help his son first.
The officer then switched to the back passenger-side door and turned his attention to the boy. He helped the boy climb out of the vehicle as he reassured him.
"Hey, little guy! Can you climb out here?" said the officer. "Come on out, buddy."
Finally, the officer picked up the boy and carried him to the sidewalk. At the same time, the man was being helped out by other officers.
Once dad and son were safely out, the boy high-fived an officer and told him he was doing good.
"You're a champ, bro," said the officer.
The dad and son suffered only minor injuries in the crash, and police credited their seat belts for keeping them safe.
