11-year-old falls in Holly Springs pond, saved by police officer

An 11-year-old is recovering after falling into frigid waters at a Holly Springs playground.

Town officials say the child fell into the pond at Womble Park after attempting to walk on the thin layer of ice that capped the water around 1:50 p.m. Saturday, when temperatures hovered around 21 degrees.

 Bystanders alerted a nearby police officer, Percy Evans, who jumped in the water and saved the child, officials said. The child and officer are now doing fine and neither needed hospitalization, officials said. The Holly Springs Police Department issued a statement about the incident Saturday, praising Evans for his swift and “heroic” actions. 

“Witnesses stated the boy had been submerged in the cold water for more than three minutes prior to Officer Evans’ intervention,” town police said in the statement. “After removing the child from the water, Officer Evans placed him inside his patrol vehicle to help him warm up until fire and EMS personnel arrived on scene.”

Jay Bruner, the department’s deputy chief, is warning others not to approach icy waters. 

“This could have ended very tragically,” Bruner said. “Walking on iced-over ponds or lakes should never be considered part of winter fun; ice can be unpredictable and deadly.”

The incident in Holly Springs comes less than a week after three brothers — aged 6, 8, and 9 — died after falling into a frozen pond in Texas.