Lily Groesbeck, 18 months old, survived hanging upside down in a submerged car for 12 hours
Survivor ... Lynn Jennifer Groesbeck died when her car flipped into a river but baby Lily, pictured, survived. Picture: Facebook Source: Supplied
Survivor ... Lynn Jennifer Groesbeck died when her car flipped into a river but baby Lily, pictured, survived. Picture: Facebook Source: Supplied
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LILY Groesbeck’s mum died instantly when their car flipped into a river yet the toddler survived 12 hours in the submerged car.
On Friday night, Lynn Jennifer Groesbeck, 25, was driving along the Spanish Fork River in Utah when her car hit a cement barrier on a bridge and flipped into the water.
They were not found until Saturday morning when a fisherman waded into the water and saw the car’s wheels sticking out. The car was not visible from the road.
Police and fire rescue workers were called and made a desperate attempt to get to the car (seven of them would later be treated for hypothermia.
The police officers who entered the water say they heard a voice calling for help from inside the car.
“The four of us heard a distinct voice coming from the car,” Officer Jared Warner told CNN. “To me, it didn’t sound like a child’s voice.”
Heard cries for help ... Spanish Fork Police Officer Tyler Beddoes, left, and Spanish Fork City Firefighters Lee Mecham. Picture: CNN Source: Supplied
Officer Tyler Beddoes said he also heard a voice from the car.
“Someone said ‘help me’ inside that car,” he said. “For two nights I’ve laid awake trying to figure out exactly what it could be. All I know is it was there, we all heard it.”
“It felt like I could hear someone telling me, ‘I need help,’” Officer Bryan DeWitt told CNN affiliate KSL
But when they got to the car Groesbeck was dead and Lily was hanging from her car seat upside down and unconscious.
They rushed her to an ambulance and performed CPR.
Survivor ... Lynn Jennifer Groesbeck died when her car flipped into a river but baby Lily, pictured, survived. Picture: Facebook Source: Supplied
Rescue workers say they couldn’t believe Lily managed to survive hanging upside down for 12 hours, without food or water, in freezing temperatures as water rushed just below her head through the broken car windows.
The family set up a GoFundMe page to raise $8000 for Groesbeck’s funeral — they have already raised more than $44,000.
Lily’s aunt, Jill Sanderson, said the little girl was feeling much better.
“Her improvement is astounding. Right now she’s watching Dora and singing ‘Wheels on the Bus’ with Grandpa. She is smiling and laughing for family members. We’re blown away by Lily’s progress and so grateful to her rescuers.”
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