A family’s joyful day playing in the newly fallen snow turned to heartbreak when their young son, Ayden Sasser, tragically died in a sledding accident in Whitsett, North Carolina. The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office reported that Ayden was sledding on Saturday when his sled veered into a nearby pond, trapping him under the ice.
Authorities have not disclosed the boy’s exact age. Harrowing audio from 911 calls revealed the frantic moments following the accident. “Please, please, please,” an unidentified woman is heard pleading with the operator. “There is thin ice, and they’re trying to get to him. They’re trying to help.”
The caller described the boy’s dire situation, explaining that two people had jumped into the icy water to rescue him. “I think they got him. It’s really cold, though,” she said, her voice trembling. “I don’t know. He was in there for a good minute. He’s probably freezing cold.”
Overwhelmed with emotion, the caller added, “I don’t think he’s okay. I’m scared. I don’t want him to die,” before breaking into sobs. Ayden was eventually pulled from the water and rushed to a local hospital, but tragically, he did not survive. Authorities are awaiting the official cause of death from the medical examiner, told Daily Mail.
(Facebook)
Two first responders and three other individuals involved in the rescue efforts were also hospitalized for medical evaluations and later released. The incident prompted a large response from emergency services, including Guilford County deputies, the Whitsett Fire Department, Guilford County Emergency Medical Services, and three other agencies.
Ayden’s mother, Angel Nicole Sasser, expressed her unimaginable grief on social media, sharing a fundraiser to support her family. “My life… my baby… I don’t know how to move forward,” she wrote in a heartfelt post.
“I just don’t have words… no energy… nothing… this is all I have at the moment… I love you all. We just want lots of love… hugs… kind words.” The small community of Whitsett is rallying around the family, offering condolences and support in the wake of this devastating tragedy.