Hero dad praised for saving strangers' little girl
Police are hailing a Sydney man as a hero, after he leapt into action and saved a three-year-old girl from drowning.
Last Saturday, Scott Windon was with his two daughters at Mort Bay Park along Sydney Harbour enjoying the warm weather, when three-year-old Mia Bullimore, tumbled three metres over the ledge into the water.
According to Leichhardt Police, everyone at the bay was in a panic after witnessing Mia fall into the water, who was starting to “sink into the depths of the harbour”.
Mia was a stranger to Mr Windon, but it didn’t stop him from jumping off the ledge to rescue her.
The police said Mr Windon used the ledge to lower himself to the below rocks which are covered in sharp rock oysters.
“He scooped little Mia before she had gone completely under the water,” Leichhardt Police said on Facebook.
“He placed her under his left arm and walked over more rock-oysters, then swam 70 meters to the nearest exit point to hand Mia to the waiting arms of her parents Ian and Phoebe.”
Due to Mr Windon’s swift actions, Mia only sustained a minor bump, however Mr Windon sustained deep cuts to his feet, cuts and lacerations to his lower legs, knees, thighs and the palms of both hands.
Paramedics attended the scene and transported Mr Windon to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
At the hospital, Mr Windon underwent surgery to clean his wounds and received dozens of stitches to the soles of his feet.
The police said Mia can now continue dreaming of becoming SpiderGirl, after her cape-less hero saved her life.
“Not all heroes wear capes,” the police said, adding Mr Windon’s actions spared several people from “horror and heartache”.
“This incident could have easily led to yet another tragic drowning death of a child, if it were not for the quick thinking, selfless, heroic actions of Mr Scott Windon.
“His actions have not only saved little Mia’s life but has spared the horror and heartache for her family, her friends, and numerous first responders that would have had to attend to the tragic drowning of a little child.”
There have been 61 drowning deaths this summer, according to Royal Life Saving Australia, up from 49 the same time last year. Forty-nine have happened at coastal areas and inland waterways including rivers, lakes and dams.
That number is expected to rise to 62 after a snorkeller went missing off Melbourne’s Altona Beach on Saturday. A search for the missing woman was set to continue into the night.
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