Kids Saved In Icy River Car Crash Reunite With Their Heroes On 'Ellen'
The three kids who miraculously survived a car crash into an icy river in Utah were reunited with the good samaritans who jumped into the freezing water to save them.
Roger Anderson, his two kids Mia, 9, and Baylor, 4, and their family friend Kenya Wildman, 9, were rescued by brave bystanders when their car became submerged in gushing, icy water. On the Jan. 10 episode of The Ellen Degeneres Show, they finally were brought face-to-face with the heroes who saved their lives. “I think we’re surrounded all the time by heroes-in-waiting,” Roger told Ellen.
The reunion was very emotional, and several audience members were crying as the kids hugged their rescuers.
The three young children remember hitting the water, but two became unconscious after. Several heroic people witnessed the crash and immediately jumped into the water to save the family. Roger desperately tried to save the kids, but he needed help.
Chris Willden, a former police officer, shot out the windows, while another man, Ben helped flip the car over. “It was so desperate, I figured we’ve got to try this,” he explained.
Another woman, a respiratory therapist, gave the kids mouth-to-mouth once they were brought from the water. First she made sure Baylor came to, then little Mia, but when she looked for Kenya, she couldn’t find the girl at first. “I kept screaming, ‘Where’s my third kid?'” she explained.
“It’s an honor to meet all of you,” Ellen told the group. She then gave the group a trip to Disneyland the next day and each of the kids received $10,000 toward college from Sara Lee. Plus, they all received the gifts from the 12 Days of Giveaways!