LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA, FL – A five-year-old boy is alive today after two off-duty firefighters successfully resuscitated him following a near-fatal drowning at a local resort pool over Memorial Day Weekend.
A Near-Tragedy At Plunge Beach Resort
The incident occurred while young Tyler Nelson was celebrating his birthday with family at the Plunge Beach Resort. Tyler’s father, Tyonne Nelson, stepped away from the pool briefly to order food, leaving Tyler under the supervision of older family members.
Within moments, Tyler slipped beneath the surface unnoticed. “It was the worst day of my life, and the best day of my life because my baby got saved,” Tyonne Nelson later recalled.
Miracle At The Poolside
Broward Sheriff’s Fire Rescue Paramedic Broderick Espinoza happened to be off-duty in the same pool. Espinoza and his sister-in-law spotted something submerged in the water. After bringing the child to the surface, Espinoza realized it was Tyler, who was completely unresponsive, not breathing, and lacked a pulse.
Espinoza immediately began CPR on the pool deck. He was quickly joined by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Lieutenant Jesus Fuentes, who was also off-duty at the resort. Together, their immediate medical intervention saved the boy’s life before emergency vehicles could even arrive.
A Heartwarming Reunion
Just one week after the incident, Tyler was able to attend his kindergarten graduation. On Monday morning, Tyler and his parents, Markita Pittman-Nelson and Tyonne, reunited with the two firefighters to express their immense gratitude. Inspired by his rescue, Tyler shared that he now wants to be a firefighter when he grows up.
Summer Safety Warning Issued
Following the near-miss, the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) issued a critical safety reminder for parents as summer vacation begins. With pool and beach attendance rising, BSO urges families to:
- Enroll children in swim lessons early.
- Ensure weak swimmers wear appropriate flotation devices.
- Maintain constant adult supervision near water.
- Learn basic CPR, as immediate action saves lives.
