'Impossible' Miracle To Become Movie

WENTZVILLE, MO — When John Smith fell through the ice of Lake Saint Louis three years ago, his mother didn't think he would survive. His heart stopped for nearly an hour as he lay on the bottom of the lake and as firefighters pulled him out, working desperately to resuscitate him. Two weeks later, the teenager walked out of the hospital no worse for wear. "It's something I'll never take for granted ever," his mother, Joyce, told KSDK St. Louis.

Her new book, "The Impossible," recounts how her faith saw her through the ordeal and, she believes, brought her son miraculously back from the brink of death. It will be made into a feature film, slated for release sometime in late 2018. Christian film producer DeVon Franklin, who is best known for another book-to-film project, "Heaven is for Real," will head up the project.

KSDK's Kay Quinn asked some of the first-responders saved John's life who they would like to play them in the movie:

"I would love The Rock or Vin Diesel to play me in this pivotal movie with my pivotal role, because they're great and they would make me look much better,” says Captain Tommy Shine with the Wentzville Fire Department.

“I just want someone to play my part, and I won't mention any names, but just someone that truly believes what we really do,” says Wentzville Fire Chief Michael Marlo. “Sometimes we don’t give up, and there's a reason we don't give up."

Smith's book is due out Nov. 7. Filming is set to begin on the film early next year. Read more from KSDK Channel 5.