American hero of the day: 5-year-old boy pulled from pool without a pulse, off-duty firefighters step in to save his life

Acts of heroism do not always happen during emergencies on duty. Sometimes, they happen when people are spending time with their own families. The American Hero of the Day are two off-duty firefighters whose quick actions helped save the life of a five-year-old boy after a near-drowning incident at a Florida resort. What could have become a heartbreaking tragedy instead turned into a story of survival, gratitude and a reminder of how a few critical seconds can make all the difference.

Tyler Nelson, 5, is now back home with his family, attending swimming lessons and enjoying the milestones that his loved ones feared he might miss. The young boy was recently reunited with the first responders who stepped in when his life was hanging in the balance.

Family trip turns into a frightening emergency

The incident took place during Memorial Day weekend on May 24 at Plunge Beach Resort in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida. Tyler was at the resort with family members as they celebrated his birthday.


According to reports from CBS News, WSVN and the Broward Sheriff's Office, Tyler's father, Tyonne Nelson, briefly left the pool area to order food. The child remained near the water with his 20-year-old brother and another adult.

Moments later, a normal afternoon suddenly became a medical emergency. "The time I'm actually ordering our food, that's when I heard the noise," Nelson said.

Looking back on the incident, he admitted he had considered taking Tyler with him. "I should have took with me," Nelson said, as per CBS News. "I thought about it, contemplated it, Tyler was talking to Connor's mom, and with Connor, and they were sitting at the edge of the water."

At a reunion event with the rescuers, the emotional father reflected on the terrifying experience. "It was the worst day of my life, the worst and the best day of my life because my baby got saved," Nelson said.

Off-duty rescuers notice trouble in the pool

At the same resort, Broward Sheriff's Fire Rescue firefighter and paramedic Broderick Espinoza was off duty and spending time with family when something in the pool caught his attention.

"We noticed something in the water," Espinoza said. "We didn't know exactly what it was, so she kind of used her foot to bring it afloat, and we noticed it was Tyler."

The situation quickly became clear.

"He was unresponsive, wasn't breathing, and didn't have a pulse. So I immediately started CPR on the side of the pool right there," Espinoza said.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Lieutenant Jesus Fuentes, who was also off duty and vacationing with family, rushed over to help. Two nurses who were nearby joined the effort as well.

Body-camera footage from responding deputies later showed rescuers working frantically around the child while others called 911.

As per NBC Miami, one caller could be heard telling dispatchers: "He's on his back, they are giving him CPR right now — chest compressions, mouth to mouth."

A race against time

The rescuers continued CPR while checking for signs of improvement. "I continued CPR, and he checked every 15 to 20 seconds," Espinoza said. "As soon as he got a pulse back, I made sure he was breathing on his own and had a good pulse."

According to authorities, Tyler eventually regained a pulse and expelled water from his lungs before being transported for further treatment.

Espinoza later said, "I'm just extremely grateful for Tyler being alive. We were with him the whole time until Fire Rescue came."

For Fuentes, the response was automatic despite being off the clock. "As first responders, we are used to going to these types of calls," Fuentes said. "But when it hits home, on vacation, with our families, you have to act immediately."

He also noted that he and Espinoza happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Family believes it was a miracle

Tyler's mother, Markita Pittman-Nelson, believes there was more than coincidence behind the rescue. "I know God was there because he sent some angels," she said. "He didn't just send one, he sent two nurses. He reassured that Tyler's life was going to be intact."

The child spent only a short period in the hospital before returning home. For his family, that quick recovery felt nothing short of extraordinary considering how serious the situation had been.

The happy ending became even more meaningful when Tyler was able to return to everyday life shortly after the incident. He attended his kindergarten graduation and has since started swimming lessons.

His mother said she had already planned to enroll him in lessons this summer. "I wish I would have started earlier," Pittman-Nelson said. "It just so happened this summer was the summer I wanted to actually go ahead and start it, and then the incident happened."

During the reunion event, Tyler shared a goal inspired by the people who helped save him. According to the Broward Sheriff's Office, he said he wants to become a firefighter when he grows up.

Important safety lessons for parents

As summer brings more families to pools and beaches, first responders say Tyler's story highlights the importance of water safety. Officials encouraged parents to ensure children learn swimming skills, use flotation devices when appropriate, stay under constant supervision around water and learn CPR.

Espinoza also urged parents to enroll children in swim classes and never leave them unsupervised near pools.

For the Nelson family, however, the biggest takeaway is simple. A day that began as a birthday celebration nearly ended in tragedy, but because several strangers acted without hesitation, their son is alive and thriving today.