11-year-old Connor Fitz-Gerald was outside playing with friends one day on the Marina Dunes beach in California, USA.
The boy was going what most boys his age do: Digging in the sand and seeing how deep he could get his hole.
That’s when he suddenly made a terrible discovery: A young girl was buried alive under the sand.
Alyssa Bostic, a happy 5-year-old girl, was joyously playing in the sand at the Marina Dunes when the unthinkable happened.
Alyssa had created a small cave during her playtime, and she wanted to try to fit into a small hole to go inside.
But while she was standing under the cave, it suddenly collapsed.
She’d been stuck for several minutes, unable to move or breathe. With Alyssa stuck inside, there seemed to be little hope for her to escape as she was completely buried in the sand.
With no time to spare, Connor acted with lightning speed. It was a race against the clock, but thankfully Connor had no intention of losing.
The 11-year-old started digging feverishly to uncover the 5-year-old girl, who was lying limp and lifeless.
He first started to dig out her head, before clearing enough sand off of her body to drag her out.
Once Connor dug through the sand and pulled Alyssa out, she was unconscious. The brave 11-year-old then immediately started CPR – a manoeuvre he’d learned from watching television.
Whilst Connor was busy saving her life, adults arrived near the scene and immediately called an ambulance.
The girl ultimately escaped a tragic fate and is now fully recovered – all thanks to Connor’s rapid response.
“I feel good,” the girl told KSBW Action News 8.
Connor’s bravery and determination saved a life on the beach that day. His mindset and admirable actions were crucial to this little girl’s survival.
Connor’s father is proud that his son saved the girl’s life thanks to his quick thinking and good judgement.
“I’m glad he was able to sit back and think “Ok, wait a minute, there’s something going on, there’s not a parent here, I know they are at least a quarter of a mile away, I need to do something,” Connor’s dad Tim told KSBW Action News 8.
You can see more about the event in the news report below:
A few minutes can be the difference between life and death.
Although this mistake could happen to anyone, it’s important to remember safety when playing on the beach, as sand collapses easily and accidents can occur.
Luckily, Connor acted quickly and efficiently and managed to save Alyssa’s life.
Please share if you also think that he is a true hero who deserves to be celebrated!
