Kindness · Carmel, Indiana, USA
Teen brothers pull a grandmother and two children from pond
Who rescued a grandmother and two children from a pond in Carmel, Indiana?
On 12 October 2026, brothers Maddox and Grant Larger, aged 15 and 14, pulled a grandmother and two young children from a retention pond in Carmel, Indiana. Neither the grandmother nor the 4-year-old could swim. Carmel public safety teams said the brothers' quick actions saved the life of the 2-year-old.
What happened?
At about 11:15 on the morning of Monday 12 October 2026, Carmel fire and police were called to a retention pond in Carmel, Indiana.
A stroller holding a 2-year-old had become partially submerged in the pond. The children’s grandmother was struggling in the water, with her 4-year-old grandchild strapped to her back. Neither the grandmother nor the 4-year-old could swim.
How did the brothers help?
Grant Larger, 14, heard a splash. “I came to look down, and they were floating in the water,” he told WRTV.
His brother Maddox, 15, is a swimmer with the Carmel Swim Club. He jumped into the pond. Together, the boys pulled the grandmother and the 4-year-old to dry land.
Maddox then realised the baby was still in the stroller. “I unclasped it, picked him out,” he said. The toddler coughed up water and began breathing again.
Grant was on the phone to 911, explaining what was happening. By the time responders arrived, both children were conscious and crying.
What did responders say?
Carmel public safety teams said the quick thinking and decisive actions of Maddox and Grant undoubtedly saved the 2-year-old’s life.
“They remind us that you don’t have to wear a uniform or a badge to be a hero,” the Carmel Fire Department’s spokesperson said.
How have they been recognised?
On 19 October, State Representative Danny Lopez presented both brothers with Distinguished Hoosier Awards. The Carmel City Council plans to recognise them at its meeting on 16 November.
Staying safe near water
The reports do not say whether the family needed hospital care. Water safety organisations advise calling the emergency number first and reaching or throwing something to a person in trouble from the bank where possible, because entering the water can put rescuers at risk too.
Sources & reporting notes
We checked WRTV's report of 14 October 2026, based on Carmel public safety accounts and interviews with the brothers, and a state legislator's release about their awards. The accounts differ on some details: the legislator's release says the boys performed CPR, while WRTV quotes Maddox describing clearing water from the toddler. We follow WRTV's account. The family has not been named.
- WRTV Indianapolis · 14 October 2026
Account from Carmel fire and police, with interviews with Maddox and Grant Larger.
- Indiana House Republican Caucus · 20 October 2026
Release announcing Distinguished Hoosier Awards for the brothers. Some rescue details differ from WRTV's report.
Have a correction or a confirmed update? Contact our editorial team.
Common questions
- What happened in the Carmel pond rescue?
- A stroller holding a 2-year-old became partially submerged in a retention pond, and the children's grandmother went into the water with the 4-year-old strapped to her back. Brothers Maddox and Grant Larger pulled the grandmother and the 4-year-old out, and Maddox lifted the toddler from the stroller.
- How were the brothers recognised?
- A state representative presented both boys with Distinguished Hoosier Awards on 19 October 2026. The Carmel City Council plans to recognise them at its meeting on 16 November.