CSU freshman saves drowning child

Caroline Grace is a freshman majoring in instrumental music education; she is also a courageous local hero. Last summer, Grace had a job at a local pool as an attendant, monitoring and keeping the facility clean. She was by no means a lifeguard. 

However, if it weren’t for Grace, a 3-year-old girl named Madelyn would not still be alive. Madelyn’s mother, Nicole, started to get all of her kids ready to go home. In that process, she took Madelyn’s floaties off. One of the older children asked a question, and when Nicole had her back turned, Madelyn got back in the pool. She was drowning, and Nicole jumped in after her child. 

Madelyn was gasping for air, and Nicole had screamed for help from Grace who rushed over and took the child from Nicole. With no CPR certification class and only recollection of a fifth-grade gym class practicing on a tennis ball to the song “Staying Alive,” Grace then performed CPR. Emergency Medical Services took Madelyn to the hospital to ensure she was all right and eventually returned home in good health.   

Grace she said that all of this attention she has received for the heroic action was a lot, and she didn’t like it. However, Grace has used the attention for the better by encouraging people to take CPR classes and be aware because something like this could happen to anyone. She also strongly believes that God guided her through it all to save that little girl’s life. 

Zoe Soles is a rising sophomore at Charleston Southern University and is a brand ambassador for the Office of Marketing & Communication.

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