Carley
Yeah, I don’t think I’m hurt, but…I got into a car accident.
Mom
What happened? Where are you?
Carley
That’s just it — I don’t know where I am.
Carley
I’m really scared, Mom.
Mom
How can you NOT know where you are?
Mom
Well, what’s outside your window?
Carley
Nothing. It’s just…blank. I’m really freaking out.
Mom
Calm down. Look around you.
Mom
Do you see any street signs or landmarks?
Mom
A grocery store? A bank?
Mom
Honey? I need you to tell me where you are.
Carley
Mom. I’m so scared.
Mom
I know you are, baby, but I need you to give me more information.
Mom
Where are you? Can you tell me?
Carley
Mom, I think I’m underwater.
Carley
OMG, I am — I’m definitely underwater.
Mom
Carley, are you okay? Did you hit your head or something?
Carley
No, Mom. I’m underwater.
Mom
Okay, Honey. Why don’t you tell me what happened…
Carley
I must have passed out while I was driving…
Carley
Mom, how am I going to get out from under here?!
Mom
It’s alright, honey. Stay calm for me, okay?
Mom
You’re not hurt, right?
Carley
I don’t think so…my back hurts a little…
Carley
But I think I just hit the seat too hard or something.
Carley
It’s so dark down here. So cold.
Mom
Is there water coming into the car?
Carley
Yes — a little. It’s just below the seat.
Carley
I have my feet pulled up with my knees to my chest—
Carley
I’m trying to keep warm in the freezing cold. I’m shivering.
Mom
Is the car floating or submerged? Can you get out?
Carley
Mom, I’m UNDER the water. Like, completely.
Carley
This is so scary — I must have been out for a long time for this to happen.
Mom
Focus, Carley. Can you see the surface above you?
Carley
It’s frozen over. The water is all ICE.
Carley
God, how did I even get down here?
Carley
It looks like it’s a long way up to the top, Mom…
Carley
I’m scared. I might be on the bottom, but I don’t know—
Carley
I don’t see the bottom either.
Mom
So you can’t get out?
Carley
I think the water is like, all around me—
Carley
I can see it out of every window.
Carley
OMG, Mom — I’m trapped!
Mom
Carley, stay with me…we’re going to get you out of there.
Mom
But you can’t lose your head, okay?
Mom
The ice particles must be keeping the car from flooding—
Mom
That’s working to our favor. It buys us some time to find your location.
Mom
Do you remember where you were driving?
Carley
Yeah — I was coming from Stacey’s house. There was this party.
Mom
I thought you were at the movies?
Carley
Can we just focus on finding me?
Mom
Sorry — of course. Which road do you remember being on last?
Mom
This is important, honey. We need to tell the police where you are.
Carley
Idk. I can’t remember…my head is fuzzy.
Mom
Please honey, think harder.
Mom
We need to know your location.
Carley
OMG, I know! I’ll use the GPS on my phone.
Carley
No. It’s not loading.
Carley
I have no cell service. Wait—
Carley
I’m getting a weak wifi signal from Arthur Hardware.
Carley
Is that a business in town?
Mom
Yes! There’s an Arthur Hardware near one of the lakes along Route 82.
Mom
You must be down there — I’m calling 911. Be right back.
Mom
Okay, I’m getting in my car. I’m coming to search for you.
Carley
I don’t feel good. I’m…I’m dizzy…
Carley
It feels like I’m going to throw up.
Mom
You could be in shock. Can you do something for me?
Mom
Unbuckle your seat belt and check yourself over completely.
Mom
Okay? Are you doing it?
Mom
It’s okay. You’re going to be fine.
Carley
I’m not fine. I’m bleeding.
Carley
Is there any way to stop it?
Mom
Where is it? Is there a lot of blood?
Carley
It’s my back — on the lower right side.
Carley
There’s just a clump of frozen reddish-black ice—
Carley
That’s probably why I didn’t feel it.
Mom
Yes, honey. It was numb.
Carley
Yeah…I don’t know what to do, Mom.
Mom
I’m on my way, baby. I’m going to find you.
Carley
Am I going to die?
Mom
No. We’re going to stop the bleeding. Together.
Carley
But there’s so much of it—
Carley
It’s frozen to the seat and all over my clothes.
Mom
Carley. Do you trust me?
Mom
Okay. What are you wearing?
Carley
Jeans, my baseball tee, and my Supernatural hoodie — and chucks on my feet.
Mom
Are you wearing a belt?
Carley
Yeah, the one that looks like a rope.
Mom
Alright. Here’s what you’re going to do—
Mom
Take off your sweatshirt and fold it into a tight bundle.
Mom
Now take off your belt and strap your sweatshirt like a big bandage over the wound.
Mom
You need to apply heavy and direct pressure, okay?
Mom
As tight as you can stand it—
Mom
And then a little more.
Carley
Okay, I did it. It hurts now…so bad, Mom.
Mom
I know, honey. But whatever you do…
Mom
DO NOT take that bandage off.
Carley
K. Please find me, Mom—
Mom
But I need your help.
Carley
I’m so tired, Mom.
Mom
I need you to turn on the hazard lights, okay?
Mom
Just press the button with a red triangle on it.
Carley
But I…don’t see it.
Mom
It’s on the center of the dashboard. Look above the home screen.
Carley
I can’t do this…I’m so sleepy.
Mom
The hazard lights will help us find you—
Mom
This is important, honey, trust me—
Carley
Oh no…low battery.
Mom
Do you have your charger?
Carley
It only works if the car is running.
Mom
Did you press the button for the hazard lights?
Mom
Carly, please respond to me.
Carley
Sorry…fell asleep…
Mom
You have to stay awake, Carley!
Mom
Did you press the button?
Carley
Yes. The water woke me up—
Carley
More of it is in the car now. It’s coming over my knees.
Carley
The heat from my body and breath must be melting the ice outside the windows.
Mom
Carley. Listen to me.
Carley
The bandage is soaked through.
Mom
Find something else that’s dry and put it on.
Mom
Press on it as hard as you can.
Carley
I crawled into the backseat—
Carley
I’m out of the water…for now.
Mom
Okay. That’s good. That was smart, baby.
Carley
I’m sorry you're not going to see me graduate.
Mom
Don’t say that. You’re going to be fine.
Carley
I’m sorry I’ll never get married.
Mom
Stop it. I’m almost at the lake—
Mom
I’m GOING to find you.
Carley
I’ll never have kids or grandkids for you. I wanted to do that…
Mom
Carley please. You can’t think like that.
Mom
Okay, I’m at the lake — now I just have to find you.
Carley
Do you see my flashers?
Carley
You don’t see them? In the dark?
Mom
The snow has covered everything…
Mom
No — I’m finding you. I’m coming.
Mom
Trust me, baby. I’ll be there.
Mom
Wait — let the water in!
Mom
Kick it out — right now!
Mom
You have to do it. With whatever you have left in you.
Mom
And be ready when you do, because the water is going to crash in around you.
Mom
You’ll have to swim through the window and up to the surface of the water.
Mom
Come on, baby, push yourself one last time—
Mom
Trust me. If you just kick in the windows…
Mom
Then I’ll be able to find you. It’ll all be okay.
Carley
But Mom…I’m…so weak.
Mom
NO! Carley, I’m here.
Mom
I am NOT letting you give up now.
Mom
No — please, Carley! Trust me.
— Carly has lost connection —
Mrs. Kelly Phillips reported an accident at Brophy Lake late last night.
Her daughter, Carley, was trapped in a vehicle beneath the ice at Brophy Lake. Officers and paramedics were dispatched immediately.
Mrs. Phillips found the vehicle 7ft under the ice, when she detected hazard lights blinking from her daughter’s car.
The car was located at the southernmost point of Lake Brophy, about 750ft from the shore — where thin, broken ice was discovered. Officials hypothesized that the car entered the lake there.
A medical team, and both police and fire personnel, freed the body of Carley Phillips from the wreckage 47 minutes after arrival on the scene.
Police Chief Allen stated, "She was not breathing. She had no blood flow. Her body temp was 10 degrees below normal. We were all certain that she was gone."
Mrs. Phillips, a local ER nurse, led the team in a cardiopulmonary bypass resuscitation.
She claimed that her daughter’s hypothermia and lower body temp meant she could survive without oxygen for at least an hour.
She demanded the team trust her.
Carley Phillips made a full recovery.
