When a winter emergency broke out in Westfield, Indiana, it wasn’t a firefighter, EMT, or even a neighbor with a snow shovel who stepped in: it was a professional jump rope performer.
David Fisher, known onstage as the Rope Warrior, isn’t your average local. He’s traveled the globe with high-energy rope-jumping shows, authored children’s books about a rope-wielding hero, and even performed for presidents. On one chilly day in December, his skills were tested off the stage in the most unexpected way.
One Dog, One Pond, Two People in Trouble
The drama started when a neighbor’s dog darted across a frozen pond while chasing geese. The ice gave way, plunging the dog into frigid water. An 18-year-old nearby rushed in to help, but he, too, broke through and became trapped.
David’s son Felix heard screams from outside and alerted his father. Without hesitation, Fisher grabbed his jump rope bag and headed for the pond. The same ropes he uses for stage performances suddenly became lifesaving tools.
“I just instinctively went,” he later told WRTV. “I could hear the ice cracking underneath my feet.”
Fisher crept onto the ice, reached the stranded teen, and threw him a rope handle. Bit by bit, David and Felix pulled the teen to safety, then turned their attention to the dog. Both were soaked and freezing, but alive.
From Performer to Protector
Fisher’s unique background made him unusually prepared. Not only does he travel internationally as a rope performer, but he also holds three world records for jumping rope while seated. His shows are part skill and part spectacle. They’re full of movement, storytelling, and audience interaction.
This time, the performance was different. It wasn’t about applause; it was about saving lives.
After the rescue, the Fishers brought the teen and his dog inside to warm up before first responders arrived. News of their quick thinking spread fast. In January, the Westfield, Indiana, city council honored both David and Felix for their bravery.
A Community Steps Up
Mayor Scott Willis praised the father-son duo on social media, calling their actions “the definition of what it looks like to care for your neighbor.” Fire Chief Rob Gaylor added, “Stories like these don’t always have a positive outcome. My department and I are extremely grateful.”
It’s easy to imagine this story ending very differently. The water was dangerously cold, and the ice was already unstable. Fisher turned what could have been a tragedy into a moment of local pride.
As Fisher later said, “We’re all a part of a community. I would hope that when cries go out, everybody could do whatever it is that they might be able to do to help the situation.” In this case, what he could do was save lives with a jump rope.
