Two children are alive thanks to quick thinking and bravery of a Reno County man

For once, a happy ending to what could have been a double tragedy.

It started Christmas day when Reno County Sheriff Deputies responded to a report of two children who had fallen through the ice at a pond behind some residences on Daveena Drive in eastern Reno County.

When they arrived, they learned that a neighbor, Bud Brown had been looking out his window when he saw the girls fall through the ice, ran outside and towards the pond. He then went in after the girls and was able to go get both out of the water. Bud reported to Reno County E-M-S personel that the girls were in the water for somewhere between two to five minutes before he got them out. He took them into his home and wrapped them with blankets, then called 911.

The two girls are seven-year-old Janessa Stringer of Belle Plaine and six-year-old Jenna McKay from Bernice, Oklahoma.

The two were visiting family and went outside to play and had been gone about 20-minutes when the family heard the sirens. The two were taken to Promise Regional Medical Center in Hutchinson for observation and were doing very well when deputies left the hospital.

The call came in around 2 p-m, Christmas day.

Deputy John Orrison says he will write a formal letter asking that Mr. Brown recieve some type of recognition for his actions.