Alberta woman among three heroes honoured in Arizona for rescuing tot from sewage tank
By Renato Gandia ,Calgary Sun
First posted: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 07:33 PM EST | Updated: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 07:41 PM EST
The life-saving act of an Alberta woman, who helped rescue a toddler who fell into a septic tank in Arizona, is being hailed as a hero.
Chelsea Cunningham of Sundre, Alta. and two others rescued Kylie Lafferty, a two-year-old girl who had plunged into a sewage tank behind the Farmer’s Market in Maricopa, AZ. on Saturday.
The drama took place as the girl chased her dog into a nearby dirt area, county officials said in a news release.
When the child stepped on the cracked cover of a septic tank, it flipped open and the child fell in, going completely under the sewage.
The child’s mother screamed for help, catching the attention of a few Good Samaritans.
Two men immediately jumped in and swam around until one felt the child’s hair.
She was pulled up and handed off to Cunningham, who performed CPR and mouth-to-mouth until the child started breathing on her own again.
It was estimated the child was under the sewage for approximately four minutes.
She was released from hospital Monday and is expected to fully recover.
All three heroes were to be honoured Tuesday by the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office with a Life-Saving Award.
Cunningham, reached by QMI Agency following the ceremony, said she didn’t think twice whether to give the girl mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
She said in a life and death situation, one’s rescue training kicks in and it doesn’t matter where the patient had been.
“She looked clean enough to me, clean enough to live,” Cunningham said. “She’s a beautiful little girl who now has another crack at growing up.”
Sundre woman Chelsea Cunningham is honoured at a Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014 ceremony for her efforts in helping save a toddler who fell into a septic tank in Maricopa, Arizona. Photo courtesy Pinal County Sheriff's Office.
Alberta woman among three heroes honoured in Arizona for rescuing tot from sewage tank | Canada | News | Toronto Sun
By Renato Gandia ,Calgary Sun
First posted: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 07:33 PM EST | Updated: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 07:41 PM EST
The life-saving act of an Alberta woman, who helped rescue a toddler who fell into a septic tank in Arizona, is being hailed as a hero.
Chelsea Cunningham of Sundre, Alta. and two others rescued Kylie Lafferty, a two-year-old girl who had plunged into a sewage tank behind the Farmer’s Market in Maricopa, AZ. on Saturday.
The drama took place as the girl chased her dog into a nearby dirt area, county officials said in a news release.
When the child stepped on the cracked cover of a septic tank, it flipped open and the child fell in, going completely under the sewage.
The child’s mother screamed for help, catching the attention of a few Good Samaritans.
Two men immediately jumped in and swam around until one felt the child’s hair.
She was pulled up and handed off to Cunningham, who performed CPR and mouth-to-mouth until the child started breathing on her own again.
It was estimated the child was under the sewage for approximately four minutes.
She was released from hospital Monday and is expected to fully recover.
All three heroes were to be honoured Tuesday by the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office with a Life-Saving Award.
Cunningham, reached by QMI Agency following the ceremony, said she didn’t think twice whether to give the girl mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
She said in a life and death situation, one’s rescue training kicks in and it doesn’t matter where the patient had been.
“She looked clean enough to me, clean enough to live,” Cunningham said. “She’s a beautiful little girl who now has another crack at growing up.”
Sundre woman Chelsea Cunningham is honoured at a Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014 ceremony for her efforts in helping save a toddler who fell into a septic tank in Maricopa, Arizona. Photo courtesy Pinal County Sheriff's Office.
Alberta woman among three heroes honoured in Arizona for rescuing tot from sewage tank | Canada | News | Toronto Sun