Florida Woman Who Can’t Swim Jumps Into Lake to Rescue 11-Year-Old Girl from Drowning at Lakes Park
FORT MYERS, FL — A Florida woman who doesn’t know how to swim is being hailed as a hero after she jumped into a lake at Lakes Park to rescue an 11-year-old girl from drowning over the weekend.
The woman, identified as Bridgett Addison, told WBBH-TV in Fort Myers that she didn’t think twice before running into the water when she saw the young girl struggling to stay afloat.
“When I looked over, I saw her in the water. So, I just ran,” Addison recalled.
Addison said she waded into the lake and managed to pull the child up and away from the slimy embankment, trying to keep her above water while fighting to stay balanced herself.
“I was able to get her and like sling her up so she wouldn’t be where the slimy part is,” she said. “But I kept falling down. The grandma kept falling down too. That’s how I got skinned all up.”
Young Girl Was Collecting Shells When She Fell In
The girl, identified as Mia Garcia, told WBBH that she had been gathering shells with her sibling near the water’s edge when she slipped and fell in.
“I felt like an alligator was going to come swim to me and drag me under the water,” Mia said, describing the terrifying moment.
Addison, despite not being a swimmer herself, managed to pull the child safely out of the lake before collapsing from exhaustion. Witnesses at the scene called 911, but both were reportedly safe after the ordeal.
A Grandmother’s Gratitude
Mia’s grandmother, who was at the park during the incident, expressed immense gratitude for Addison’s bravery and quick action, saying that her selflessness likely saved the young girl’s life.
Authorities have not released additional details but commended Addison’s courage under pressure, especially given the risk of entering the water without swimming ability.
A Hero’s Act of Instinct
Addison told reporters she acted purely on instinct. “I didn’t think about anything else but getting her out,” she said. Despite suffering scrapes and bruises during the rescue, she said she’d do it all again if it meant saving a child.
Residents and parkgoers have since called Addison a local hero, with many praising her for putting her life on the line to save another.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office and local authorities are reminding the public to exercise caution near waterways, especially with children, as Florida continues to report a high number of drowning incidents each year.
For more stories highlighting everyday heroes across Florida, visit SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
