Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino applauded Alexander Castanon for his “quick thinking and bravery” during a ceremony on Wednesday.
Alexander was swimming on April 20 while several neighbors prepared dinner on the grills beside the pool, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported.
Officials said a relative of the girl jumped from the pool when flames shot from a grill. Others became distracted because of the flames. But Alexander noticed the girl had slipped from a floatation ring. He went under the water and saw her face down in the pool.
The boy pulled her to the side of the pool and yelled for help. The child’s relative began CPR and the girl started breathing again.
The girl’s mother says Alexander is a hero.
Source: Associated Press