David Fisher, a professional jump roper from Westfield, Indiana, recently became a real-life hero after saving a teenager and his dog from drowning in an icy pond. Known for his world records in jump roping and his children’s books about a superhero called “The Rope Warrior,” Fisher used his unique skills to perform a daring rescue.
The incident occurred in mid-December 2024 when Fisher’s son, Felix, heard cries for help outside. A woman and her teenage son were trying to rescue their dog, which had wandered onto the frozen lake and fallen through the ice. In the process, the teen also fell into the freezing water. Felix alerted his father, who instinctively grabbed two Double Dutch ropes he uses for performances.
Fisher ventured onto the fragile ice with one rope while leaving the other with Felix on the shore. Although his first throw fell short, the teen managed to swim closer and grab hold of the rope. Fisher successfully pulled him out of the water, but the teen fell back through after standing too quickly. On a second attempt, the teen crawled on his belly until he was safely back on solid ground.
Fisher later reflected on how his rope skills came into play during the rescue, likening it to “Indiana Jones and the whip.” He remarked that he had often imagined scenarios where a rope could save someone but never thought it would happen in real life.
This heroic act earned Fisher and Felix the Lifesaving Citizen Award from Westfield’s mayor. The teenager and his dog were both saved thanks to Fisher’s quick thinking and expertise with jump ropes—a tool he typically uses for performances at schools and sporting events