Virginia Firefighter Rescues Young Boy

Dec. 19, 2002
Sunday began as a normal day for Gary Riddle until a call came over his police scanner about a boy falling into an icy pond on Dr. Edward Williams Road in Blairs.

Sunday began as a normal day for Gary Riddle until a call came over his police scanner about a boy falling into an icy pond on Dr. Edward Williams Road in Blairs.

Riddle, a firefighter and emergency medical technician at Blairs Volunteer Fire Department, arrived on the scene along with fellow volunteers and knew he had to do something to save 9-year-old Donald Strange.

"I didn't know how long the boy had been out there with the ice like that," Riddle said. "I didn't know how much longer he could hold on. I knew he was pretty weak because he couldn't hold onto the well pipe," which the men had used to try and pull Strange to shore.

Throwing off his coat, Riddle walked into the water while holding onto the well pipe, breaking the ice as he went in order to have a clear path on the way back. When he was about halfway to the boy, the ground dropped away and Riddle had to swim the rest of the way.

Just as Riddle reached Strange, the boy went under the water.

"I got a hold of him and got him back to the bank," Riddle said.

Once the boy was on shore, the men removed his wet clothes, wrapped him in warm blankets and put him in a truck with the heater running. According to Riddle, Strange complained of having trouble feeling his legs.

The boy was rushed to Danville Regional Medical Center where he was treated and released.

"It feels good no matter whether it's just a routine illness call or something like this," Riddle said. "I was glad to be in the area at that time to put myself in that position. It feels good to give back to the community.

"Your adrenaline gets going. I didn't feel the cold. I didn't feel my arms trying to hit the ice."

Blairs Fire Department Chief David Gannell estimated Strange was in the icy water for at least 16 minutes, possibly longer.

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