Associated Press
NORTH BABYLON, N.Y. — A Long Island police officer has attended the high school graduation of a teen he rescued from icy waters more than six years ago.
Newsday reports that Suffolk County Police Officer Matthew DeMatteo watched Sarah Thalhammer graduate from North Babylon High School on Saturday.
Thalhammer was 11 when a dog she was walking dragged her onto the frozen Great South Bay on Jan. 17, 2011. The ice gave way about 50 yards off shore.
DeMatteo crawled onto the ice and pulled Thalhammer out, but the ice broke again. Firefighter Chris Gonzales threw them a rope and pulled them both to safety.
Thalhammer’s mother invited DeMatteo to her daughter’s graduation.
DeMatteo said Thalhammer is going to do great things and he’s “very, very proud of her.”
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