A young boy who was pulled out of icy water in West Long Branch this week got to meet the hero officers who rescued him.

Just days after 11-year-old Ben Santos fell through the ice and was rescued by West Long Branch police, he and his dad got to meet Officer David Brosonski and the other responding officers.

Ben recounted the scary moments he knew something was wrong on the ice.

"I start hearing snow sound like crack, cracking, so I try to step back and try to go back the other way but I just plunged into the water when it broke," he remembered.

Ben wrote Brosonski a letter of thanks that left the long-time officer choked up.

“’You put your life on the line to save me. Most will say you're just doing my job, but I believe it's more than a job to me. I owe you my life. Sincerely, Ben Santos,’" said a visibly emotional Brosonski as he read the letter out loud.

"The whole experience is very overwhelming, so I can't imagine how Ben feels. It's probably way more overwhelming for him than for any of us," Brosonski said.

"Thank you for all that they did! Thank you so much for everything," said Ben's dad, Carlos Santos.

Ben wasn't hurt and even attended school the next day. He says he wants to spread his advice to the world to always "think before you act."

"God gave me the chance, like I said. That's what God gave me, so I'm grateful for that," said Ben.