A family’s joyful day in the snow turned tragic when their toddler son, Ayden Sasser, died in a sledding accident in Whitsett, North Carolina. On Saturday, Ayden was playing outside when his sled went into a pond, and he became trapped under the ice. The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office reported the incident, but they did not share Ayden’s age.
911 calls from the scene captured the panic and desperation of the situation. An unknown woman told the operator, “Please, please, please. There is thin ice, and they’re trying to get to him.” She explained that two people had jumped into the water to help Ayden. She added, “I think they got him. It’s really cold though. He was in there for a good minute. He’s probably freezing cold.” Through sobs, the caller said, “I don’t think he’s okay. I’m scared. I don’t want him to die.”
Despite the frantic rescue efforts, Ayden was pulled from the water, but later passed away at the hospital. Authorities are awaiting the official cause of death from the medical examiner. Two first responders and three other people who helped rescue Ayden were also examined at the hospital but were later released.
The Whitsett Fire Department, Guilford County Emergency Medical Services, and several other agencies assisted in the rescue effort.
In the wake of the tragedy, Ayden’s mother, Angel Nicole Sasser, set up a fundraiser on her Facebook page to support her family. She shared her heartbreak on social media, writing, “My life… my baby… I don’t know how to move forward… 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.”
This devastating accident has left the family grieving, and the community has shown support during this difficult time.
