Virginia pupils save drowning toddler

Two Virginia Preparatory School pupils managed to save the life of a little girl after she almost drowned on the Lazy River ride at uShaka Marine World. The toddler was sitting on the edge of the figure of eight tube with her father, when she slipped through one of the holes. Grade 5 pupils, Anelly Zulu and Philippa Pavid said their rescue instincts kicked in when they saw the one-year-old splashing frantically trying to keep herself afloat.

“Anelly had come for a sleepover and we had decided to go to uShaka for the day. We were going along the lazy river for the second time when we saw the little girl fall into the water. Her father hadn’t realised the toddler had fallen in and thought she was underneath the tube, but the current had taken her away from the tube. I spotted her and pointed her out to Anelly who swam towards her,” Philippa said.

Anelly jumped in and grabbed the baby in her arms and with Philippa’s help, started swimming back up to the surface. Philippa’s dad helped pull the trio out of the water. The pupils estimate the toddler was under water for more than 15 seconds.
“We felt like superheroes. The father thanked us after handing the little girl back to him. She was coughing up water and crying, but we were glad she was okay,” Anelly said.

The duo said they had not thought of a career in lifesaving but were glad they could help. “I’d rescue anybody who was drowning, you have to be brave,” Anelly said.
Their reward for their heroic actions was access to ice-cream whenever they wanted. “I negotiated that deal with my dad,” laughed Philippa.