EDEN, NC — Courage triumphed over fear Tuesday when officers rescued a toddler who had fallen into the Dan River and pulled the 3-year-old to shore, an emotional Police Chief Paul Moore said during a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.
"I was coughing up river water, holding the boy up out of the water, and he was not responsive at all," recalled Officer Tim Knight, who, along with Officer Josh Roberts, dove into the swollen 10-foot-deep river Tuesday afternoon. "It was sheer instinct."
The officers, who the chief dubbed "true hometown heroes," entered the water in full uniform and were burdened with about 30 extra pounds from their boots and body armor.
They scrambled along the steep bank and located the youngster within minutes, the chief said. The child was roughly 150 yards downstream from Leaksville Landing, a river access point along Highway 87, floating face down and without a life vest.
Both treaded water during the ordeal while perching the tot above their heads.
The boy was treated at UNC Rockingham Health Care in Eden and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Brenner Children's Hospital in Winston-Salem.
On Wednesday, Moore praised his officers, as well firefighters and EMS workers, for delivering the child to the local hospital within 15 minutes of the 911 call for help.
"It's almost unbelievable," said Asst. Chief Anthony Lovings, a police spokesman. "He was completely unconscious when the officers brought him out. What it came down to was ... as soon as they saw him, they jumped in ... didn't ever think about it."
Police have not provided the names of the boy or his parents because the family has requested privacy, Lovings said.
The youngster and his family had not come to the landing to swim, so they weren't wearing floatation devices. Later, the child plunged into the river from the landing's metal grate work steps, prompting a frantic call for help.
When officers arrived around 12:45 p.m., they quickly located the floating tot.
Roberts reached him first. The water was over his head. He grabbed a limb to pull himself out of the water and elevate the child. He then handed the child to Knight, who swam the boy to shore.
Knight next passed the child to police Lt. Andy Johnson, who mounted a steep riverbank to get the toddler to stable ground where he and Eden firefighter Mike Farmer began CPR. Roberts and Knight followed up the hill and realized EMS workers could not access the remote spot.
So Roberts picked up the child and "they take off running .... their bodies are spent," Moore said of the 150-yard sprint. While running, "Officer Roberts ... his legs actually give out. He's done. He falls to the ground."
Knight then grabbed the boy and ran the balance of the distance to hand the child to medics.
Patrol officers then cleared the roadway for EMS workers to take the child to UNC Rockingham Health Care. He was transported from there to the children's hospital for more specialized care shortly afterward.
The chief estimated that first responders provided roughly seven minutes of resuscitation.
The accident comes just days before the busy Memorial Day holiday, which will likely draw thousands of area residents to rivers, lakes, ponds, pools and surf for celebrating.
"Be aware when kids are around water," Knight said, "and make sure they have floatation devices."
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