Firefighter, Who Famously Saved 3 Teens in 2015 and Inspired Breakthrough Film, Is Fighting for His Life After Heart Surgery

A Missouri firefighter, whose story of rescuing three teenagers from a frozen lake in 2015 inspired the film Breakthrough, is now fighting for his life after a serious illness.

Wentzville fire captain Tommy Shine, 50, first made headlines a decade ago when he helped to rescue three 14-year-old boys who fell through the ice of a lake in suburban St. Louis. The story of one of the boys, who spent minutes underwater and nearly died, is the focus of the film.

Now, Tommy has been hospitalized himself, after what began as a fall and stitches turned into multiple surgeries and a stay in intensive care.

According to his wife, Brittany Shine, he first fell from a ladder and cut his head open in October 2024, per local outlet Fox 2 Now and several blog posts from Brittany. While Tommy was seeking treatment at the hospital, doctors discovered that he needed heart surgery.

Two months later in December, after Tommy’s surgery was seemingly successful, Brittany was headed home after visiting hours when she received a call that her husband had unexpectedly taken a turn for the worse. In a blog post, she wrote that his heart had stopped and he was placed on a ventilator, before undergoing several more operations.

“I’ve been told at least three times that he probably wouldn’t make it through the night,” Brittany told Fox 2 Now.

Tommy’s family — including his five children — were initially told earlier this month that he would never be able to speak again or have upper body strength, Brittany wrote in a blog post, adding that doctors believed at the time he would also have lowered brain capacity and may have to be placed in a care facility for the rest of his life.

According to Brittany, doctors were preparing to move Tommy to a facility on Monday, Jan. 6, when he unexpectedly woke up and attempted to speak after being administered medication and taken off his breathing machine.

“His critical care doctor came in and asked if we could have a conversation,” Brittany wrote. “He said this was absolutely not something they expected and he believed Tommy needed more time to see how much brain function he actually has, what else can he overcome, etc.”

“Simply, a miracle had been performed,” she continued, crediting her husband’s recovery to the couple’s faith. “God is not done with Tommy’s story, and this confirmed it.”

“We’re talking about a guy who jumped in a frozen lake to save someone’s life,” Wentzville Fire Department chief Steve Mosher told Fox 2 Now. “It’s no surprise to me that he’s fighting as hard to save his own life.”

The story bears striking similarity to the 2015 incident that inspired Breakthrough. At the time, Tommy and other first responders helped to save the life of a 14-year-old boy, identified later as John Smith, who spent more than 10 minutes underwater and was rushed to a nearby hospital. Although Smith’s heart stopped, he later regained consciousness and made a full recovery.

The 2019 film, starring Chrissy Metz, Topher Grace and Mike Colter as Tommy, recounts the rescue and the role Smith’s family believes faith played in the outcome.

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According to Brittany, Smith, now an adult, even paid Tommy a visit in the hospital — and she credits his presence in aiding his recovery.

“John showed up at the hospital, and the moment he got off the elevator, Tommy got his heartbeat back,” Brittany told Fox 2 Now.

Tommy’s family is asking for prayers and support as the fire captain continues his recovery.

“It’s a roller coaster, ups and downs every single day, but I definitely think he’s shown us his story is not over yet,” Brittany said, per the outlet.

Mosher added, “This is the Tommy that we’re used to, waking up and shocking everyone, just making things happen that you wouldn’t think were possible.”