Florida officer who can’t swim rescue baby from pond, Baby survives

According to authorities, a Florida police officer who cannot swim risked her own life by diving into a retention pond to save a drowning baby.

Officer Me’Atia Sanderson was the first to arrive on the scene on June 9, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. She was notified that a child was still in the water.

The terrifying rescue was captured on body cam video for the first time by the sheriff’s office on Tuesday.

According to the sheriff’s office, “Ofc. Sanderson, who does not know how to swim herself, without a second’s hesitation, entered the pond to retrieve the child and performed CPR until she was relieved by other responding officers.”

Sanderson can be seen sprinting into the water to save the drowning child in the video. After pulling the child from the water, Sanderson continued her efforts to resuscitate him.

The officer can be heard saying, “come on, baby,” and “go ahead” as she performs CPR.

Two more officers arrive on the scene and take over CPR efforts at the end of the video.

According to sheriff’s office representatives, Sanderson has been honored for the significance of her “quick and decisive decision to go into the retention pond.”

“Her actions, while putting her own life at risk, undoubtedly saved the child’s life,” the department said.