The Incident

On August 20, 2025, at 8:53 PM, a mother demonstrated extraordinary courage when she freed her one-year-old child from a car submerged in the Menasha Marina in Menasha, Wisconsin.

The vehicle, with the mother driving and her one-year-old secured in a car seat, accidentally went into the marina water. Officers with the Menasha Police Department were dispatched after receiving reports of a vehicle in the water.

Extraordinary Courage

Police said the mother acted with "extraordinary courage," freeing her child from the submerged vehicle and bringing the child to safety. As the car sank, she worked frantically to unbuckle and extract her baby from the car seat underwater.

Community Heroes

As the mother worked to rescue her child, community members sprang into action:

• One person sprinted toward the marina, scaling a fence without hesitation to reach them
• Two additional community members quickly arrived and provided support
• Together they ensured both mother and child were safe

Police Praise

Menasha Chief of Police Nick Thorn stated: "The courage shown by this mother and the community members who rushed to her side prevented a tragedy. Their actions reflect the very best of our community and remind us how powerful it is when people step forward in moments of need."

Surveillance video of the water rescue was released by Menasha Police, showing the dramatic moments of the rescue.

A Happy Ending

Thanks to the mother's quick action and the rapid response of community members, both mother and child were unharmed. What could have been a tragic drowning instead became a story of courage and community coming together in a moment of crisis.