9-year-old tourist saves toddler from drowning in resort pool

Ethan Temmen, 9, was visiting the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista resort in Orlando, Florida when he saved a 2-year-old girl from drowning in the pool.

The English boy was awarded a citation medal and certificate from the Orange County Sheriff's Office and his family was given a trip to Walt Disney World.

Temmen and his younger brother were playing at the resort pool Thursday where they met the 2-year-old girl and her brother. A short time later, Temmen saw the girl floating face down at the bottom of the pool.

"I got really scared so I decided to try to help her," Temmen said. He swam into three feet of water to retrieve the girl and pull her to safety, where concerned onlookers helped pull her out of the pool. The women began performing CPR while Ethan's brother ran to alert hotel staff to call 911.

The two women at the scene were able to revive the girl, who had stopped breathing, before medical personnel arrived.

Temmen's "selfless actions and quick thinking," saved the girl's life, said Sheriff Jerry Demings during the award ceremony.

"We want to send him back to England as a rock star," Demings said, handing the young hero a green-ribboned medal.

Back home in the U.K., Temmen and his brother have taken life-saving courses and regularly practice water rescues together.

Still, Temmen never thought he'd have to put his skills to use so soon. "I'm amazed that she's still alive," he said. The boy's mother said she's "very proud" of bother her sons. "All my friends know I've got two special lads," she said.

According to an incident report, the girl was under the supervision of a relative who lost sight of her. The Department of Children and Families is investigating the circumstances of the near-drowning.