Man Saves Grandson's Life Moments Before Van Sinks

A grandfather moved fast after his van rolled into a lake with a 2-year-old boy inside. Tommy Albertson saved his grandson seconds before the van went underwater at Eagle Lake in Del City.

Thursday, July 12th 2012, 10:22 pm

By: News 9


A grandfather moved fast after his van rolled into a lake with a 2-year-old boy inside. Tommy Albertson saved his grandson seconds before the van went underwater at Eagle Lake in Del City.

The van was parked near the shore just before it rolled about 30 feet into the lake. Witnesses say it happened so fast that it is a miracle the boy is still alive.

"I was worried about him," Albertson said. "I didn't think he was going to get back to shore. It could have been bad."

Witness Stacey Henderson was at the lake with her children Thursday afternoon. She was the one who called 911.

"It is truly a miracle that he got him out when he did because the car was under in seconds," Henderson said.

7/12/12 Related Story: Van Crashes Into Del City Lake, Child Rescued

The chain of events is being described as heart-sinking moments that happened so fast, but played out in slow motion. Albertson's 2-year-old grandson was feeding the ducks at Eagle Lake just before making it to the driver's seat of his grandpa's van.

"He was in park and…hit [the gear shift]," Albertson said. "[The van] went racing down the hill."

As the van was heading toward the water, Henderson's son sounded the alarm.

"Just in an instant, [my son] screamed that the van was going in the water," Henderson said. "I looked over and I said, ‘Oh my God, there's a kid in there.'"

At the same time Henderson was calling 911, Albertson reached his van as it hit the water. However, he was unable to grab his grandson, so Albertson dove in the lake and caught up to the van for a second time.

"When I got out there to him, I reached in [the van] and grabbed him by his [shirt] collar and pulled him out," Albertson said.

Witnesses say the boy is doing just fine. News 9 is told when the boy got out of the lake, all he wanted to do was continue feeding the ducks.

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