Heroic Rescue: New Jersey Boy Jumps from Burning Home into Police Officers’ Arms

The child was left home alone in the upstairs of the property on Monday when the fire broke out

Dramatic bodycam footage captured the moment an eight-year-old boy leaped from the upstairs window of a burning home in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and into the arms of police officers waiting below. The fire broke out Monday morning at a two-story residence, leaving the child trapped upstairs while two other occupants evacuated from the lower level.

Asbury Park police officers John Walsh and Dewitt Bacon rushed to the scene along with local resident Joseph Dunbar. The footage shows Walsh coaxing the boy to jump, reassuring him by saying, “Just jump, we’re right here,” as the men stood beneath the window with their arms outstretched. After several tense moments, the boy finally leapt, landing safely in Walsh’s arms. Walsh immediately carried him away from the burning home, urging him to breathe.

The child was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation and is reported to be recovering well. No other injuries were reported in the blaze. Officer Walsh later described the rescue, saying, “Catching an eight-year-old wasn’t really on the agenda for the day. I just picked him up, threw him over my shoulder, and ran. That kid trusted us to get him out that window, and thankfully he did jump.”

The youngster took some coaxing, with Walsh heard calling out 'just jump, we're right here' to the boy as the three men waited below

Dunbar, who assisted in the rescue, said, “All I could think was just help, help, help. That was a brave kid. He was scared, but he listened. That’s what he needed.”

Asbury Park Police Director John B. Hayes praised the actions of those involved, stating, “I commend Officer Dewitt Bacon, Officer John Walsh, and area resident Joseph Dunbar for their heroic actions in catching the child. All displayed courage and bravery — including the 8-year-old juvenile who jumped from the window.”

Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the fire.

The dramatic rescue follows a deadly house fire in Maryland earlier this month, where six people, including four children, were killed after flames engulfed a two-story home. More than 70 firefighters battled that blaze for over an hour before it was brought under control.