Suffolk Police Officers Reunite With Boy, 8, From 'Christmas Miracle' Ice Rescue

YAPHANK, NY — A trio of quick-thinking Suffolk police officers were reunited on Friday with the eight-year-old boy they saved from the frigid water of a partially frozen pond that he fell through on Christmas Day outside of an apartment complex in East Patchogue.

Eight-year-old Tayvion waved to the trio, and was greeted with, "Hey, buddy," and an outstretched hand by Highway Sgt. Michael Santillo, inside the press room at Suffolk police headquarters in Yaphank, followed by officers James Rizzo and Andrew Tirelli from the 5th Precinct in Patchogue.

He shly shrugged his shoulders and sheepishly said, "Hey," back to his rescuers.

Santillo, Tirelli, and Rizzo were presented with proclamations by County Executive Ed Romaine and Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina, commending them for their heroism.

Romaine said the rescue was what he calls "a Christmas miracle."

After venturing out into the middle of a pond in Heatherwood Lakeside Village at around 1 p.m. on Christmas Day, Tayvion broke through the ice, finding himself in chest-deep water, and he was unable to free himself to get to safety, police said.

Highway Sgt. Michael Santillo and Officers James Rizzo and Andrew Tirelli from the 5th Precinct in Patchogue, worked together to rescue the boy, who upon returning to dry land, was cold and wet but otherwise unhurt, according to police.

In a video of the incident, which was released by the police on Tuesday, Tayvion can be seen standing in the middle of the pond, with his arms stretched out as he cried for help, then the officers frantically working in tandem to free him from the icy water by throwing a life ring out to him and then guiding him back to the shore across the ice.

Officer Tirelli said that when he and his partner, Rizzo, arrived they could see Tayvion was "in distress" and secured their gunbelts before rushing into the pond to rescue Tayvion, "and then the rest was about him, focusing on getting him home safe."

It was much appreciated by Tayvion, who offered a sweet "thank you" to the trio.

Sgt. Santillo said that while being thanked is nice, that's not the reason he did it.

"I don't do it for the thank yous — It's our job," he added.