In a miraculous discovery, a Utah man who went fishing accidentally saved the life of a baby girl who was trapped inside an upside-down vehicle in the freezing Utah River.
According to officials, the man waded into the Spanish Fork River only to discover an upside-down car in the freezing water. Trapped inside was an 18-month-old baby girl who was still strapped to the car seat and was surprisingly alive.
Rescuers arrived on the scene of the incident and took Lily Groesbeck, the toddler who was in a critical state, to a hospital in Salt Lake City to be treated for hypothermia. The baby not only survived the car crash but despite spending 14 hours in the vehicle, Lily managed to remain safe from the river's waters.
However, Lily's mother, Lynn Groesbeck died in the car crash. 25-year-old Groesbeck's body was found in the driver's seat.
The investigators reveal that Lily and Lynn were returning home to Springville city from Lynn's parent's house in Salem when the car met with an accident. The vehicle struck a cement barrier on the bridge and hurtled into the river.
Overnight, the mercury dropped while the infant was trapped in the vehicle.
The police opine that the incident occurred on Friday, March 6, around 10.30 PM. A resident in the area reports having heard a strange sound, but did not find anything unusual when they scouted the site.
On Saturday, March 7, the fisherman chanced across the overturned vehicle around 12:30 in the afternoon.
The baby is better and is still at the Salt Lake City hospital.
"She is doing remarkably well considering the circumstance. The doctors have been hopeful so far," revealed Lynn's sister Jill Sanderson. "We would like to express our appreciation to the Spanish Fork rescue team for saving the baby's life."
Four firefighters and three policemen who entered the Spanish Fork River to save the baby have also been released from the hospital after undergoing treatment for hypothermia. The team had to push the vehicle on one side in order to save little Lily, as well as retrieve her mother's body.
It is not known exactly what led to the crash and the matter is being investigated by the police in tandem with the Utah Highway Patrol.
Photo Credit: Tony Webster | Flickr
Photo Credit: Marcin Wichary | Flickr