USA: Man Jumps Off Bridge to Rescue Drowning Toddler

A good Samaritan from Ocean City, Maryland overcame his fear of heights recently to save a toddler from drowning.

On 2 May, Jonathan Bauer and his 13-year-old daughter, Ava, were caught in a five-car pile-up on the Route 90 bridge over Assawoman Bay, when he saw a two-year-old girl – who had been flung from one of the vehicles – floating in the bay’s waters.

Realising the danger that the toddler was in, Bauer instructed Ava to pull over the first firefighter or paramedic that she saw.

Afterwards, he pushed aside his fear by jumping off the bridge. He then swam over to the girl, lifted her out of the water, put her against his shoulder, “and aggressively patted her on the back” to expel any water she swallowed.

Nearby boaters who had witnessed the rescue motored over, pulling the girl to safety and taking her to shore where paramedics were waiting. She was then airlifted to Johns Hopkins Children’s Centre for treatment.

Rick Meehan, mayor of Ocean City, praised Bauer’s heroic efforts at a conference five days later, awarding the “humble hero” with a plaque.

Meehan said: “This was a really tragic accident… [but] the ending of the story is everyone is okay, and they’re okay because of everyone in this room.”

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