A professional jump roper and his son from Westfield, Indiana, are being hailed as heroes after they used a Double Dutch rope to rescue a teen and his dog from an icy pond.
David Fisher and his son, Felix, were honored for their brave actions with the Lifesaving Citizen Award on January 27, after the dramatic rescue on December 14, 2024.
According to witnesses and reports online, the whole scene started when Felix heard desperate calls for help. He immediately ran to get his father, and together they tracked the sounds to a frozen pond, where they found a young man floundering in the icy water with his dog.
The teenager had fallen through the ice while trying to save his pet, trapping him in the freezing elements (People). Without skipping a beat, Fisher, a three-time world record holder in jump roping, leaped into action. David Fisher commentated on the incident by saying:
"I just instinctively went right for my bag of jump ropes and pulled out the double Dutch ropes."
In an interview with ABC News, Fisher went on to explain the experience in detail. He said:
"I could hear the ice cracking underneath my feet. When I finally did arrive, I slung the rope to him, and he grabbed one handle, and bit by bit, we pulled him out of the ice pond."
It didn't take long for the city of Westfield, Indiana, to commend Fisher and his son for their selfless, heroic acts. Mayor Scott Willis praised their swift action during the award ceremony, calling it “absolutely remarkable.”
Westfield Fire Chief Rob Gaylor also praised the rescue effort saying not all situations like this one have such a positive ending. He said in a statement:
“My department and I are extremely grateful to David and Felix for their quick-thinking and selfless actions that day,”
The Indiana hero David Fisher is more than just a jumper
Fisher is used to the spotlight, having performed and traveled the world as a professional jump roper. A record holder in the same discipline, he has spent his life entertaining and inspiring people.
On the other hand, he is also an author who writes children’s books about a jump-roping hero. But this time, fans online are praising his actions and calling him a real-life hero.
People and citizens have now raised concerns about the increasing risk of drowning. According to the Indiana State Personnel Department, drowning continues to be a serious issue in Indiana, with the state averaging around 20 pediatric drowning deaths per year.
Drowning incidents have been on the rise across the country in recent years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for example, reported about 4,000 accidental drowning deaths in the U.S. in 2019. In Indiana, the annual age-adjusted drowning death rate was 1.25 per 100,000.

Your perspective matters!
Start the conversation