Off-duty Wash. fire captain rescues unconscious toddler from ocean while vacationing in Mexico

While dining with his family, Spokane Fire Capt. Kevin Smith spotted a mother and two children in distress and dove into action

May 03, 2025 08:00 AM

By Helena Wegner
The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.)

SPOKANE, Wash. — A fire captain from Washington was vacationing in Mexico when he spotted a family struggling in the ocean, fire officials said.

Captain Kevin Smith then leapt into action to help them, the City of Spokane Fire Department said in an April 22 Facebook post.

Smith had been eating breakfast with his family at his hotel overlooking the water, fire officials said.

He rushed to the shoreline and realized a mother and her two children had been carried out to sea, and they “were struggling to stay afloat,” fire officials said.

The mother was rescued by the time he reached the shoreline, so he dove into the water to save the toddler, fire officials said.

He reached the unconscious child in “rough waters” and brought her back to safety where he gave her “rescue breaths” until she became conscious, officials said.

Another onlooker saved the second child.

“Firefighters are never truly off duty. Whether active, retired, or on vacation, they respond when needed,” the fire department said in the post.

“Please join us in recognizing Captain Smith for his courageous and selfless actions that undoubtedly saved the life of a helpless child caught in the ocean’s powerful grip,” fire officials said.

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