Collingdale teen, 2 police officers honored for saving children in icy pond

COLLINGDALE, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- A teenager and two police officers who jumped into a freezing cold pond to rescue three children were honored in Collingdale, Delaware County on Monday night.

The incident happened on February 21 while 16-year-old Anthony Alexander Jr. was hanging out in Collingdale Park with his friends.

He said he heard screams coming from two little girls and a boy.

"I wasn't going to sit there and let them drown like that," said the teen.

Alexander first tried to use a stick to rescue the kids before jumping in and pulling out the little boy and one of the girls.

Collingdale Police Sergeant Pat Kilroy and Officer Corey Hansen also jumped in the water to assist.

All three were honored during Monday night's Collingdale Borough Council meeting.

Alexander's parents were beaming with pride.

"He always has the biggest heart in the world and now the world sees that heart," said his mother Ava Alexander.

Just before 3 p.m. Monday, 16-year-old Anthony Alexander was hanging out in Collingdale Park with his friends when he heard screams coming from the pond.

"I'm very blessed to have him in my life, very blessed to raise somebody like him," added his father Anthony Alexander Sr.

Anthony Alexander Jr. said the ordeal has him considering a career in law enforcement.

The Collingdale Borough Council voted to add more signage around the pond to try and prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.