While a group of children played in the sand, digging small tunnel caves to pass the time, 11-year-old Connor Fitz-Gerald made a shocking discovery—5-year-old Alyssa Bostick was completely buried beneath the sand.
Alyssa had been digging a cave when it collapsed, trapping her underneath for an unknown amount of time. Without hesitation, Connor sprang into action. He quickly dug her out, starting with her head, and soon realized the severity of the situation—she was unconscious, with sand filling her nose, mouth, and eyes.
Despite being alone with no adults nearby, Connor didn’t panic. Relying on something he had seen on the TV show NCIS, he immediately performed CPR on Alyssa until she started breathing again.
Connor’s father, Tim Fitz-Gerald, later expressed his immense pride, emphasizing how incredible it was that his son had saved a life without any adult supervision—the nearest one was a quarter of a mile away.
When Alyssa’s parents returned, they called paramedics, who confirmed that without Connor’s quick thinking, the situation could have ended much worse. Thankfully, Alyssa has since made a full recovery.
In recognition of his bravery, Connor was awarded the National Youth Champion award by the American Legion. His ability to stay calm under pressure at such a young age is truly remarkable. Well done, Connor!
