Lakeview F.D. members, county police save drowning girl

A 13-year-old Lakeview girl who nearly drowned in her neighbor's pool was rescued on May 13 by members of the Lakeview Fire Department and Nassau County police.

According to Lakeview Fire Chief Heather Senti, a Lakeview Fire Department ambulance was heading back from Winthrop Hospital after responding to an earlier call, when it was flagged down by a Nassau County police officer looking for an address. That was when, Senti explained, she, along with Assistant Fire Chief Sal Sinatro and volunteers in the ambulance quickly responded to a home on Smith Street in Lakeview.

Senti said that the girl allegedly wandered into the backyard of a home only a few doors down from her own, and fell into a neighbor's pool. Senti could not say how long the girl had been in the water.

"Upon our arrival, officers from Nassau County Police Department cars 511 and 516 were running up the street with the child in their arms," she said. "They immediately jumped in our ambulance, where our paramedic and EMT's began patient care, [and] two additional Advanced Life Support providers from Nassau County police department jumped in to assist."

A helicopter was called to help transport the girl from a landing zone at Malverne High School that Malverne firefighters secured, Senti said. But the girl was instead transported by ground by Lakeview's ambulance - which received an escort by police and firefighter officials - to Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre, due to its close proximity.

The girl, who is autistic, was in cardiac arrest. "But due to the life-saving actions of the entire crew, Lakeview and Nassau County Police, she was revived and was stable enough to be transferred to Cohen Children's Medical Center in Manhasset."

Senti added, "She is listed in critical condition," she said, "But the entire crew, they gave her a second chance at life."