Hero paramedic rescues baby after discovering car submerged in freezing lake

On Thursday, March 16, a fire broke out in a Southern Illinois home at 5:15 a.m.

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Todd Zobrist insists he was simply at the right place at the right time (Facebook).

Highlights

By Kenya Sinclair (CALIFORNIA NETWORK)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
3/24/2017 (7 years ago)

Published in U.S.

Keywords: Todd Zobrist, baby, drowning, hypothermia

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Six siblings escaped the deadly fire in Glen Carbon, Illinois, but their father, Justin Campbell, passed away.

Fifteen minutes after the fatal fire, an SUV belonging to Cristy Lynn Campbell, Justin Campbell's ex-wife, was discovered partially submerged in Silver Lake near St. Louis.

Instinctively, he stripped himself of his shirt, socks and boots before diving into the frigid waters.

"The water was cold and the car was out a distance," he told ABC 7. "I got halfway out and realized that it was [a] horrible decision. But then I said I had committed to this so I continued."

He swam about 75 feet to the vehicle and checked to make sure there was no one inside. What he assumed was a doll was floating in the back seat but he quickly discovered the "doll" was actually a three-month-old baby.

He took the child to the roof of the SUV and performed CPR until she began to breathe. He swam her to shore and called 911.

She was later identified as Julian Campbell, the only child unaccounted for after the Campbell house fire.

Madison County Sheriff John Lakin explained the Campbell children, all under 15-years-old, escaped the flames and separated, with some running to a nearby Walmart while others fled to a home in the neighborhood.

Those who ran to Walmart asked an employee to call 911.

By the time authorities arrived, Justin Campbell was already gone.

Todd Zobrist greets his sons (Robert Cohen/rcohen@post-dispatch.com).

Highland Emergency Medical Services Chief Brian Wilson hailed Zobrist a hero, saying, "He definitely saved the child's life."

Hero Zobrist stated: "It was definitely good news for the family - especially with all the bad news - that all the children are safe.

"I'm ready to go back to my normal shift and have things to go back to normal."

While Zobrist will return to his normal life, the Campbell family still reels from the back-to-back tragedies.

Hours after Julian was rescued by Zobrist, a woman's body was discovered down Silver Lake.

Coroner Steve Nonn said the autopsy will be conducted to positively identify the body found in the lake and recovered from the burned out home.

Lakin stated: "Today was a tragic day all the way around because of both scenes. Fortunately, there is something good that can come of this."

Authorities stated the children are currently with Illinois authorities and will be placed with relatives.

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