Two off-duty firefighters sprang into action to rescue a five-year-old boy who fell into a pool at a resort in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, deputies said.
According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, deputies on Sunday afternoon received reports of a possible drowning at the Plunge Resort
Deputies and Pompano Beach Fire Rescue then arrived at the resort, where they learned that two off-duty firefighters, one from Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, as well as two off-duty nurses, provided medical care to the boy.
BSO said that the boy was in the pool for a long period of time and didn’t have a pulse, but the off-duty BSRF firefighter performed CPR on him, and he regained a pulse.
The boy was then taken to the hospital for treatment.
NBC6 spoke to a man at the resort who said the boy was playing when he slipped and fell in the pool.
“I saw a boy in the water, who was unresponsive,” said the man. “Paramedics were there right away, and they pulled the boy out.”
Video captured the chaotic moments after witnesses said the child was pulled from the water.
First responders were seen carrying the young boy out of the pool before rushing him into a waiting ambulance.
Witness Marquc Fernando said the situation quickly turned terrifying.
“I saw the kid in very bad shape; he was breathing but barely, and they were doing the CPR,” he said.
Fernando described the emotional scene as family members watched first responders trying to save the child.
“I was scared too, and I was trying to help the kid, but I tried to get the father of the kid to calm down,” he said.
Officials said the boy has since woken up and was talking with his doctor and his family.
Sunday’s incident comes as Florida faced a record-breaking number of child drownings in 2025.
Last week, a family was left grieving after a 6-year-old boy drowned in a Southwest Miami-Dade canal that was a block away from his home
County officials across South Florida are making sure resources are available to help better educate communities on water safety
Broward County released tips for National Water Safety Month.
Teach children water safety and swimming skills as early as possible.
Appoint a “Designated watcher” to monitor children during social gatherings at or near pools.
Maintain constant visual contact with children in a pool or pool area
Meanwhile, in Miami-Dade County, leaders are expanding the zero-drowning Miami-Dade Initiative, which is a program that provides free swim lessons, transportation, summer camp water safety programs, and education for families across the county with the goal of preventing more tragedies.