Rescuer Had Only Seconds to Act to Save Teen in High Water

By Jacqueline Sit, NEWS 9

MIDWEST CITY, Oklahoma -- Midwest City firefighters and police officers put their lives on the line to rescue a teen from a rain swollen creek.

The fast moving water that flooded the area at Poore Park was about 14 feet high, and for everyone involved in the rescue, it was a scary situation.

The 911 call came in around 7 p.m. Tuesday as high water nearly took the life of a Midwest City teenager.

"I would say he was over the top. He was stressed because he was in the water for quite awhile," said Midwest City Police Sgt. J.D. Holyfield.

Holyfield said the teenager's three friends were swimming in the creek, but what happened to the 16-year-old was an accident.

"This child was a little handicapped, so it was a little stressful. We needed to make something happen and get him out," Holyfield said.

When the sergeant got to the scene, he jumped over a fence and ran across the field to the teenager who was holding onto a tree branch waiting for help.

"It was a little stressful, and I was glad we had the leash because 15 foot was too short. We had that 30 foot and it worked out well," Holyfield said.

SkyNEWS 9 HD was over Poore Park moments after the dramatic rescue as firefighters and Holyfield pulled the teenager to safety.

"A lot of times they don't end the way you want them to. It's nice when something comes through, and we have a happy ending," Holyfield said.

The 16-year-old was checked out by EMS and released to go home.

Holyfield said he doesn't consider himself a hero, saying it was all just in a day's work.