Northern Beaches five-year-old recognised for rescuing a drowning toddler

A five-year-old who saved a three-year-old from drowning at a resort in Port Douglas is expected to be celebrated in a big way.

A five-year-old from the Northern Beaches who was recently hailed a hero for saving a child from drowning is now being recognised for the act by Royal Life Saving Australia.

Matilda Pearce, who is a student at Holy Cross Primary School in Trinity Park, has been nominated for a Royal Life Saving Bravery Award by Royal Life Saving Queensland for her timely effort at rescuing a drowning toddler last month.

Paul Barry, Executive Director of Royal Life Saving Queensland, said that it was important to celebrate when someone is saved.

“Our motto is anyone can be a lifesaver,” Mr Barry said.

“What she has done aligns with this motto. On the surface, you don’t think much of it but what she has done is actually a big thing. It could have been a loss of life.

“When a child drowns, it destroys a community. If she didn’t do what she did, it would have been a tragic outcome. If she were to win this award, Matilda will probably remember it for the rest of her life.”

Matilda Pearce, who has been nominated for a Royal Life Saving Bravery Award, with her father Matthew Pearce. Picture: Brian Cassey

The incident is still fresh in the five-year-old’s memory according to her father Matthew Pearce, who said he was obviously “a really proud father”.

“She doesn’t realise the gravity of the act but she constantly talks about the little girl, it puts a smile on her face when she is in the pool and playing with her brother,” Mr Pearce said.

“It just reinforces, as a father and parent, that swim lessons should be mandatory and paid for by the government in every single school in Australia.”

Five-year-old Matilda Pearce has been nominated for a Royal Life Saving Bravery Award. Picture: Brian Cassey

The five-year-old was enjoying a morning swim at a resort pool in Port Douglas last month when she spotted a young girl face down in the water and rescued her from potential drowning by dragging her to the edge of the pool.

Matilda was lauded by resort staff for her crucial intervention.

“She was a brave little girl who was the first to notice and the parents were there immediately after,” BIG4 Port Douglas Glengarry Holiday Park’s Karlie Brady said at the time.

RLSA is non-profit that advocates for safer swimming and drowning prevention among all Australians.

Originally published as Northern Beaches five-year-old recognised for rescuing a drowning toddler