Eight-Year-Old Hero Commended by Hillsdale Police

Hillsdale Police commended Lisa Donne and 8-year-old Ryan Nicita Monday for saving three lives June 22.

A group of Hillsdale residents had gathered for a pool party after the last day of school that afternoon, and a mother spotted two boys struggling to swim in the pool, according to Police Chief Chip Stalter. The woman jumped in to help them, but she also had trouble swimming and sank to the bottom of the deep end.

"She was unconscious and needed help," Nicita told Patch.

Nicita jumped in the pool and first helped the two other boys safely out of the water, then tried to get the woman out. He was unable, so he ran to find help.

"He said, 'this lady's at the bottom of the pool and she's not moving,'" Donne said.

Donne then jumped into the pool — fully clothed — and was able to get the woman out with help from other moms. She then performed clearance breathing on the woman, who was hospitalized but ultimately survived, Stalter said.

"It was a scary day with a happy ending," Donne said.

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