Mass. Police Officer Saves 2-Year-Old from Near Drowning

A Massachusetts off-duty police officer saved a toddler from drowning on Friday, Aug. 2, during his vacation in New Hampshire, according to a press release from Chelmsford Police Department.

Officer Matthew Sech and his family were visiting Iona Lake, nestled below the White Mountains in Conway, N.H,. when his wife spotted a 2-year-old girl unconscious and not breathing.

“My wife started screaming my name, and I looked, and she started pointing to a beach area where we were, and she’s pointing to one end of the beach,” Sech told WVCB and WMUR-TV.

He explained that he saw the child’s mother “giving her child back slaps to the back” and then “rushed over.” 

“At that time, I asked the woman what was going on, and she said, ‘My daughter was underwater and she’s not breathing,’ ” Sech said. “When I took a hold of the woman’s child, I quickly did a once-over — to see what was going on. She was slowly breathing. I could tell that she was in distress, so I placed her on the beach area and I put her in the recovery position.”

He gave the child “a couple back blows,” which prompted her to start coughing and expel the water from her lungs, per the CPD press release.

The toddler then regained consciousness, opened her eyes and began to breathe. Later, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department and Conway Fire and Paramedics arrived at the scene and transported the young girl to the local hospital. She was released, and the CPD reports she is in good health.

Sech has worked for the Chelmsford Police for six years and has both CPR and EMT training. He told WMUR-TV that he immediately jumped into action, adding, “I’m just glad I was at the right place at the right time and was able to help and provide my training. I can say for that positive outcome.”

Chelmsford Deputy Chief Gary Hannagan celebrated the officer’s heroic act.

“We applaud Officer Sech for his courage and swift response, which unquestionably saved a young life,” Hannagan said in the press release. “His commitment to public safety goes beyond his official duties, exemplifying the highest standards of our department.”

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Representatives for Carroll County Sheriff and Chelmsford Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on Tuesday.