SWANSEA, Ill. – Swansea police released an incredible video on Monday that showed officers breaking down a garage door to save a man’s life. 

Police say the man was trapped inside his garage that was filled with smoke from a fire. Officer Justin Schutzbach was the first on the scene and could faintly hear a voice coming from inside the garage.

“That person was not able to open that garage for them; there was no other way in so they decided they were going to ram it,” said Chief Matt Blomberg from the Swansea Police Department. 

The video shows Schutzbach along with officer Matt Lindley and Sgt. Breanna Kemper-Damm work together to break down the door. 

“Two of them really started laying into the garage with their shoulders and hips and were able to force the door and the sergeant that was on scene was able to help the gentleman get out,” Blomberg said.

Blomberg said his officers were not the only ones to jump into action; he said three little boys were playing in their yard and could see smoke coming from the house. 

They ran to tell a neighbor and asked them to call 911.

“911 was able to get here quickly and the man that was inside was able to get out safely,” said Nicole Goodman, mother of the boys. 

Blomberg shared that the man was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation and is expected to be okay.

Goodman said it is exciting to see her three boys, Roman, Xavier and Darius, getting recognition from the police chief for their heroic thinking. 

“I’m proud of them that they knew to look out for their neighbors and that was exciting,” Goodman said.

Blomberg also expressed pride in the three boys’ quick thinking in an emergency.

“I spoke to their school today; they were very proud as well. (They) said they are great kids; they’re very respectful, very responsible, so all in all it was just a great outcome for us,” Blomberg said.