Ohio Man Rescues Mother and Daughter from Drowning SUV
May 15, 2026
An Ohio resident’s quick action transformed an ordinary evening into a heroic rescue, forever linking two families after aiding a mother and daughter trapped in a submerged vehicle.
Credit: WKYC Channel 3
On the evening in question, 33-year-old Yianni Sarris was assisting his father with yard work at their Mentor, Ohio home when a sudden noise drew his attention. He witnessed an SUV barreling through neighborhood yards before it landed in a pond.
“I looked up — and the SUV was coming up, came down, came across one, two, three, four yards,” Sarris recounted. “Then the right two wheels went down the hill over there and just kept driving, basically, into the center of the pond.”
The SUV was occupied by Kim Wallace, 46, and her 8-year-old daughter, Olivia. They were returning home with dinner from Olive Garden when Kim experienced a sudden wave of nausea.
Kim recounted her experience via police body camera footage: “We were coming home and I started to feel really nauseous,” she explained. “Next thing I know, her son was literally waking me up from the car.”
After Kim fell unconscious at the wheel, the SUV breached a fence, careened across the backyard, and plunged into the pond.
Reacting swiftly, Sarris dashed to the scene.
“When you hear a little girl screaming, you go right into reaction mode,” he stated. “Just jump in. There’s lives in the water. You’ve got to do what’s right.”
Sarris first reached Olivia, guiding her to the safety of a neighbor named Walter, who had arrived upon hearing the crash. Sarris then returned to the vehicle, where Kim remained trapped.
“I looked at her straight in the eyes and I just said, ‘I’m going to try and I’m going to do my best,’” he shared.
With water reaching his chest and submerging the SUV’s front door, Sarris entered through the back, freed Kim from her seatbelt, and pulled her out, eventually bringing her to safety.
“That’s when she started waking up,” he noted.
After securing Kim onshore, Sarris collapsed from the exertion.
“Everything kind of just went black,” he confessed, though the rescue spanned only around three and a half minutes.
Weeks later, the families gathered at a local park, where emotions ran high.
Yianni (center) reunites with the family
“We just can’t thank you enough,” Kim expressed to Sarris. “I am so grateful that you were there.”
Chris Wallace, Kim’s husband, echoed the sentiment.
“Our family is still here today because of you,” he stated.
Kim is now in recovery and consulting with medical professionals to determine the cause of her sudden fainting.
Once strangers, the families now share a bond and foresee an enduring friendship.
