Off-duty Mass. officer saves drowning child while on vacation in N.H.

“We applaud Officer Sech for his courage and swift response, which unquestionably saved a young life,” Chelmsford, Mass. Deputy Chief Gary Hannagan said

August 07, 2024 10:02 AM

Off-duty Mass. police officer saves toddler after near-drowning in NH — “We applaud Officer Sech for his courage and swift response, which unquestionably saved a young life. His commitment to public safety goes beyond his official duties, exemplifying the highest standards of our department,” Chelmsford Deputy Chief Gary Hannagan said in the release.

By Susannah Sudborough
masslive.com

ALBANY, N.H. — An off-duty Massachusetts police officer resuscitated a 2-year-old girl while vacationing with his family in New Hampshire over the weekend after the toddler nearly drowned in a lake.

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Chelmsford Police Officer Matthew Sech was at Iona Lake in Albany, New Hampshire, around 11 a.m. on Friday when he heard screams coming from the shoreline, according to a press release from Chelmsford police. A woman had just pulled her child from the water, and the girl was unresponsive.

Sech quickly delivered back blows to the toddler to expel water from her lungs, police said. The girl regained consciousness but was still lethargic.

Soon after, local first responders got to the scene and took charge of the toddler’s care, police said. She was taken to a hospital and was later released. She is now reported to be in good health.

Sech has been part of the Chelmsford Police Department for six years and recently completed training as an EMT, police said.

“We applaud Officer Sech for his courage and swift response, which unquestionably saved a young life. His commitment to public safety goes beyond his official duties, exemplifying the highest standards of our department,” Chelmsford Deputy Chief Gary Hannagan said in the release.

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