Teen Heroes Save Kids from Icy Pool: A Heartwarming Rescue

Five teenagers became heroes in New Jersey, United States, after saving an 8-year-old girl and her 4-year-old brother from drowning.

It all began when the children's parents, Stephanie and Richard Hyde, took their kids for a thrilling sledding experience at a place called 'Beacon Hill'.

Olivia, aged eight, and her brother RJ, aged four, were filled with excitement. "We got there in the afternoon and noticed that the main hill everyone was sledding on was too crowded and steep," the parents recalled. "We chose another hill which was smaller and less steep and headed there with our sleds."

They spent about half an hour in the car before heading out for the adventure ahead, without noticing a crucial detail that would later haunt them. "We noticed a pool to the right of the hill, but didn’t think it would cause any trouble or be an issue because it seemed relatively far from where we planned to sled," the parents explained.

The kids’ first ride was fantastic, and naturally, they wanted a second go. "Olivia sat on the inflatable sled with her brother on her lap," Richard recounted. "I gave them a gentle push, and off they went."

At first, the sledding seemed smooth – until unfortunately, the sled hit an ice patch near some cut tree trunks, invisible from afar. "The hit sent them straight into the frozen pool," the parents detailed. "Since it was an inflatable sled, it stayed afloat but began to sink, putting the little ones in great danger."

"They were incredibly humble, they didn’t want anything, just to make sure my kids were okay."

As this unfolded, Richard and Stephanie stood anxiously atop the hill, shouting for help, their cries echoing through the area. Luckily, help was already there – a group of 14-year-olds who had their eyes on the sparsely populated hill.

"We were by the pool, throwing stones to see if it was truly frozen, and suddenly heard screams," shared one of the teenagers, named Kieran Foley. "I saw people pointing towards the pool. I looked and saw the children's sled and jumped in to save them immediately."

It was a frightening moment, though swimming in the pool itself wasn’t too challenging. "It wasn’t deep, so I could swim straight to them, but it was extremely cold. I lifted the kids while some friends jumped in to help and others stayed outside. We created a chain and first passed the boy to my friends. Then we got the girl out."

Meanwhile, other families arrived at the top of the hill, witnessing the teens' extraordinary teamwork within and outside the pool to rescue the children.

"We were amazed to see the boys so united for this cause; they thought on their feet and knew how to form a human chain. I don’t know how they knew to do that; it was at exactly the right moment," said Richard.

Later, the teens, most of whom had participated in Scouts, explained they had learned the human chain technique there. "During the rescue, my friend Tyler fell into the water, and another friend lost his headphones. The parents offered us money, but we refused."

"They were incredibly humble, they didn’t want anything. They just wanted to ensure my kids were okay. They kept telling my kids, 'You’re safe now,' 'You’ll have hot chocolate and a warm bath at home.' They were amazing," said the parents.