Drone Confiscated, Child Taken To Hospital

A helicopter responding to a report of a child drowning raced to the scene to transport the child for medical treatment after nearly drowning was delayed on takeoff due to a drone flying overhead.

The incident took place when a call came in around 4:20 on the afternoon of February 9, 2025,  concerning a 3-year-old child who was reported as swimming in a pool on Chimney Rock Drive near Orangefield, Texas, when the child nearly drowned and then went into cardiac arrest, according to Orange County EDS#2 Assistant Fire Chief Josh Taylor.

Orange deputies and first responders arrived at about 4:30 p.m. to find the parents already performing CPR. A helicopter was called in to transport the child to a nearby hospital and after boarding the child, the aircraft was prevented from taking off due to a drone being flown directly overhead.

The pilot of the drone was quickly identified and his drone promptly confiscated, according to Orange County Sheriff Bobby Smith. When the drone was safely grounded, the helo was able to take off and transport the child.

Smith said there is an investigation being conducted but no arrests have been made yet.

The boy was treated at the hospital and is in stable condition.

FMI:  www.co.orange.tx.us/