AUSTIN (KXAN) – Quick action, perseverance and life-saving skills earned Cpl. Anthony Hipolito one of the Austin Police Department’s highest honors.

The Life Saving Medal came more than two years after he rescued a 2-year-old boy from drowning, in part, because no one was sure the child would survive.

“I have children, so immediately, I want to help save him and figure out what’s going on,” said Hipolito. “A child at the bottom of the pool: That’s the last call I want to take, as an officer.”

That call came at the end of a long day at work.

When Hipolito responded, he saw tiny J.J., only wearing a diaper, lying on the concrete. His mother had pulled him from the pool after about 10 minutes in the water.

“I jumped into the pool,” said J.J.’s mother, Jessica Ettinger. “I can tell you: There’s nothing scarier than finding your baby with your foot, and he’s actually dead. He had no pulse.”

Hipolito started CPR immediately. Minutes passed, but he refused to stop.

“He was dead. There was no pulse. He wasn’t breathing. I just wanted to do what I could to save this little child,” said he said. “He was 2 years old. I had a 2-year-old at the time. All I thought was to do whatever I could to save this little man’s life.”

It worked. By the time paramedics took J.J. away, he had a weak pulse.

“They kept telling me he wasn’t going to live past the hour, or through the night,” said Ettinger.

J.J. was in a coma for weeks. Hipolito visited him often, on his own time, and held his tiny hand.

“I just walked in and saw him there, and he had hoses and plugs hooked up to him. It didn’t look good. It broke my heart,” said Hipolito.

J.J. fought just as hard as his rescuer had and managed to open his eyes, talk and eventually make a full recovery.

“All I could think about was losing one of my daughters, and that’s not something you ever want to experience,” said Hipolito. “So it does tug on me. It has for two years. But seeing him alive and well before he left was great.”

J.J. and his mother no longer live in Austin, but he is now a happy, healthy 4-year-old who calls his “cop friend” every week to say hello.

Drowning prevention tips

Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death among children ages 1 to 4, according to Safe Kids USA , a group that tracks those deaths.

In most cases of child drownings, one or more of the following was a factor:

• Weak or no supervision
• No barriers
• Weak or no CPR skills
• Weak or no swimming skills
• Lack of life jacket use

And Safe Kids USA offers a mantra for water safety at home or on vacation:

• Lock: Secure any access to a tub or pool
• Look: Watch any child carefully around water
• Learn: Learn infant and adult CPR

The organization also has an online pool safety game you can play with your child to start a conversation about the dangers presented around water.