Purcell Police Officers Save Child From Drowning

Three Purcell officers are being praised for saving a little boy from a murky pool. 

The 911 call came in on Aug. 22. 

Dispatcher Heather Hill answered.

“We received a call on 911 from a caller stating that two twin three-year-old boys had fallen into a pool. They pulled one of them out and they couldn't find the other one because the water was too murky,” Hill said. 

Corporal Rick Adkins, Corporal John Albertson and patrolman Josh Van Oort got to the house within minutes and jumped in the murky pool with the child’s father to find him. 

“When I came out the back door I was throwing my gun belt and dove in,” Adkins said.

It took the officers seconds to find the child, but they say it felt like they were under water for much longer.

“We were just literally walking around using our hands and feet trying to feel around,” Van Oort said.

Van Oort found the little boy, Talen, still alive, and brought up to the water’s surface.

“I got out and that's when all three of us started doing CPR,” Van Oort said.

Talen has a long recovery ahead of him in the hospital. 

Family says he's just starting to smile and react to them again. 

Friends are raising funds for medical costs.

Meanwhile, the community is thanking the officers.

Hundreds showed up this week to thank the three, as they received life-saving awards.

“None of us consider ourselves heroes. We did our job,” Van Oort.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for Talen’s medical costs.