The Missouri firefighter whose story of saving 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 rescue three 14-year-old boys who fell through an icy lake in suburban St. Louis. The story of one of the boys, who spent several minutes under water and almost died, is at the center of the film.
Now Tommy himself is hospitalized, after what started with a fall and stitches turned into multiple surgeries and a stay in intensive care.
According to his wife, Brittany Shine, he first fell off a ladder and cut his head open in October 2024, according to local outlet Fox 2 Now and several blog posts from Brittany. While Tommy sought 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 heading 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 stopped and he was put on a ventilator before undergoing several more surgeries.
Chrissy Metz says she ‘could relate’ to ‘Breakthrough’ mom who believes God saved her dying son
Tommy Shine.
Wentzville Firefighters/Facebook
“I was 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 or have upper body strength again, Brittany wrote in a blog post, adding that doctors at the time believed he would also have reduced brain capacity. and may need to be institutionalized for the rest of his life.
According to Brittany, doctors were preparing to move Tommy into a facility on Monday, January 6, when he unexpectedly woke up and tried to speak after being medicated and taken off the ventilator.
“His ICU doctor came in and asked if we could talk,” Brittany wrote. “He said this was absolutely not something they expected and believed Tommy needed more time to see how much brain function he actually had, what else he could overcome, etc.”
“Simply, a miracle happened,” she continued, crediting her husband’s recovery to the couple’s faith. “God wasn’t done with Tommy’s story, and this proved it.”
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Mike Colter plays the fictional Tommy Shine in ‘Breakthrough’.
Fraser/20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock
“We’re talking about a guy who jumped into a frozen lake to save someone’s life,” Wentzville Fire Chief Steve Mosher told Fox 2 Now. “I’m not surprised that he’s fighting to save his own life just as much.”
The story bears an uncanny resemblance to the 2015 incident that inspired it Breakthrough. At that time, Tommy and other first responders helped save the life of a 14-year-old boy, later identified 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, tells the story of 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 visited Tommy in the hospital — and she credits his presence with helping his recovery.
“John showed up at the hospital and as soon as he got out of the elevator, Tommy’s heartbeat came 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 day, but I definitely think he’s shown us that his story isn’t over,” Brittany said, according to the newspaper.
Mosher added, “This is the Tommy we’re used to, he wakes up and shocks everyone, he just makes things happen that you wouldn’t think possible.”
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