5-Year-Old ‘Hero’ Survives After 6 Hours of CPR in Miraculous Frozen Creek Rescue

A five-year-old boy is being hailed as a hero after surviving a life-threatening rescue of his younger brother from a frozen creek on Easter Sunday. Ashkan Thibodeaux, who suffered severe organ damage and neurological trauma, is now breathing on his own at a Minneapolis children’s hospital.

The incident occurred on April 5 when Ashkan’s younger brother, Wyatt, fell into icy waters while the siblings were exploring near their Itasca County home. According to family reports and emergency records, Ashkan immediately entered the water, successfully guiding Wyatt to safety before being overcome by the conditions himself.

First responders, including Itasca County Sheriff’s deputies and local fire crews, performed continuous CPR on the five-year-old for six hours during his transport to specialized care. Upon arrival at the hospital, medical teams placed Ashkan on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)—a high-level life support system that functions as an external heart and lungs for patients with life-threatening cardiac or pulmonary failure.

The child’s recovery has been marked by intensive surgical intervention. Surgeons were forced to remove his appendix and sections of his colon and small intestine due to internal trauma. Despite the severity of these injuries, medical staff successfully “dialed back” and eventually removed the ECMO support as his internal systems stabilized.

Neurological assessments initially indicated brain damage. However, family updates via the CaringBridge platform suggest a more optimistic prognosis than first feared. Reports indicate that Ashkan has regained the ability to move his limbs and communicate verbally, including saying “yes” and “no” following the removal of his breathing tube on April 17.

“Ashkan didn’t hesitate for a second,” the family stated in a public appeal. “He saw the danger and jumped in to save his brother, guiding him to safety and saving his life.”

As of April 19, a community–led fundraiser has secured nearly $44,000 toward a $45,000 goal to assist with mounting medical expenses. While the Itasca County Sheriff’s Office has not issued a formal press statement regarding the accidental fall, the case has drawn national attention to the boy’s bravery.

Photographs released Sunday show Ashkan sitting upright in a chair—a significant milestone in a recovery process that medical professionals initially deemed uncertain. He remains under close observation as his digestive system adapts following the partial organ removals.