During the 4th of July holiday earlier this summer, off-duty Clarkstown Police Department Officer Paul Munding saved 4-year-old Ella from drowning.
Rockland County mom Carla Shaffer shared the important story on Facebook: "While attending a friends daughter's birthday party... Ella promised not to leave the ladder..."
Then Ella saw a beautiful, shiny doll in the pool and went for it. Alone. In water she couldn't stand in.
Officer Munding was off-duty at the party and jumped fully clothed in to save Ella.
It was a fun party with laughing and noise. Remember, drowning is often a silent accident.
Thank you for being a hero Officer Munding!
The CDC says one in five people who die from drowning are children 14 and younger. And 75% of the drownings happen at a private residence.
For every child survivor of a submerged accident, there are five children with non-fatal injuries. Stay safe this holiday weekend!
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