In early April 2016, a little boy named Joshua was reported missing by his frantic mother. Minutes later, she discovered the unthinkable. Joshua had drowned in a backyard pool in Fort Worth, Texas. Officer Damon Cole was the first person to respond. He found Joshua, pulled him from the water and did everything he possibly could to save the boy's life. Since the tragedy, not a day goes by that Officer Cole doesn't think of Joshua and pray for him and his family.
When Officer Cole pulled Joshua from the pool, he noticed what the boy was wearing — a Spider-Man T-shirt and Spider-Man sneakers. It came as no surprise to learn that Spider-Man was Joshua's #1 favorite superhero.
Before Joshua's funeral, his family asked Officer Cole — who was planning on attending — to do something special in tribute to Joshua. Something they knew would make their little boy in heaven happy. And Officer Cole was honored to oblige.
When you see what happened next, I guarantee you'll be touched to tears, like so many others who are sharing in this powerful story.
[H/T: WLBZ, Heroes & Cops Against Childhood Cancer]
On April 2, 2016, 5-year-old Joshua Garcia was reported missing by his mother in Fort Worth, Texas. After calling the police, it was discovered that Joshua drowned in a pool.
The first person to respond to the horrific scene was Officer Damon Cole of the Fort Worth Police Department.
At the time of the drowning, Joshua was wearing a Spider-Man T-shirt and sneakers. In a touching and bittersweet gesture, Officer Cole showed up to his funeral in a Spider-Man costume. He wanted the boy to be laid to rest next to his favorite superhero.
Officer Cole pulled Joshua out of the water and tried desperately to revive him, but to no avail. He was absolutely devastated. "There's not a minute that has gone by that I haven't thought about Joshua and his family," he told a local Dallas news station.
According to KTLA, the officer is known for driving his custom Superman Dodge Charger to visit kids with cancer dressed up as various superheroes. He was honored when Joshua's family asked him to wear his Spider-Man costume for the funeral.
Hundreds of people attended Joshua's funeral atLaurel Land Memorial Park.
The entire time, Officer Cole stood there dressed as Spider-Man, right beside the casket.
Joshua was also buried in his own Spider-Man costume. His family says Officer Cole's tribute is helping them find peace.
