Jump rope pro saves neighbor and dog from ice pond – with jump rope | Indiana

In an extreme instance of life imitating art, an author of children’s books about a rope-wielding hero reportedly used his jump ropes to save both a dog and a young man from drowning after they fell into an ice pond in Indiana.

Those exploits in December by David Fisher – who also jumps rope professionally – recently earned him recognition as a hero from the municipal government of Westfield, as the Indiana television news station WRTV told it.

Authorities say Fisher sprang into action after his son, Felix, heard a man screaming for help. They realized a neighbor’s dog had gone on to an ice pond while chasing geese, causing him to fall in the water. In turn, an 18-year-old man went after the dog to try to save the animal – but ended up falling in, too.

That’s when Fisher grabbed his jump-rope bag, pulled out his double-Dutch ropes and bravely – if gingerly – stepped on to the ice, he told WRTV.

“I just instinctively went,” Fisher recounted. “I could hear the ice cracking underneath my feet.

“When I finally did arrive, I slung the rope to him, and he grabbed one handle, and bit by bit, we pulled him out of the ice pond,” said Fisher, whose son helped him complete the rescue.

The Fishers then took the neighbor and his dog into their home so they could warm up and wait for first responders to arrive, officials said.

Fisher had the tool to save the day on that occasion because he travels the world as a professional rope jumper, WRTV reported.

According to Fisher, he has collected three world records involving jumping rope while seated on the ground. He said he also performs “a very interactive, visually entertaining jump rope show”.

Fisher’s website said he has treated two US presidents – George Bush (although it does not specify which one) and Bill Clinton – and a Russian one – Boris Yeltsin – to performances.

Jumping rope is such a passion for Fisher that he has written fictional children’s books centering on a hero who defeats his evil enemies with a laser-like rope. The hero shares Fisher’s nickname: the Rope Warrior, according to the author’s website.

Westfield’s city council honored the Fishers at its meeting Monday.

“I’ve always known that Westfield is filled with brave, kind-hearted people, but what David and Felix did is absolutely remarkable,” mayor Scott Willis said in a statement posted on social media. “Their courageous actions are the definition of what it looks like to care for your neighbor. We are proud to honor them with this well-deserved award.”

A statement attributed to Westfield fire chief Rob Gaylor said: “Stories like these don’t always have a positive outcome. My department and I are extremely grateful to David and Felix for their quick-thinking and selfless actions that day.”

Fisher told WRTV that he hoped others would do the same.

“We’re all a part of a community,” Fisher said to the station. “I would hope that when cries go out, everybody could do whatever it is that they might be able to do to help the situation.”