City honors 11-year-old girl, woman for saving child from drowning
By Pepper Purpura
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URBANDALE, Iowa (KCCI) — Two local heroes were recognized Tuesday evening as the City of Urbandale presented lifesaving awards to 11-year-old Mya Cannon and her aunt, Alexis Newton, honoring their quick thinking and decisive actions that saved a child from drowning.
The awards were presented during a special ceremony ahead of the Urbandale City Council meeting, highlighting the pair’s courage and awareness in a moment of crisis.
The incident unfolded at a local pool, where Mya was the first to notice something was wrong.
“I just saw something under the water, and I knew something was wrong,” she said. The child’s condition immediately raised alarm. “He had purple lips, and he was really pale.”
Though she had never faced a situation like this before, Mya acted without hesitation, drawing attention to the child in distress.
As Mya alerted others, Newton stepped in and pulled the child from the water.
“It happened so fast, but it felt like forever at the same time,” Newton said. “I didn’t really have time to process what was going on until later that night.”
Once out of the pool, an employee began CPR while 911 was called, setting off a chain of response that ultimately saved the child’s life.
While both focused on helping during the emergency, the emotional reality set in afterward.
“When I saw the family trying to get him to breathe, that’s when it hit me — this is really real,” Newton said.
Cannon echoed the concern.
“I was really scared. I was just hoping he would make it.”
The following day brought relief when the child’s family confirmed he was recovering and had returned to normal.
“They’ve told me multiple times how grateful they are,” Newton said. “Things could have been so different.”
City officials said the recognition of Cannon and Newton underscores how awareness and willingness to act can make a life-saving difference. Mya was honored for recognizing the emergency and initiating action, while Newton was recognized for removing the child from the water and helping ensure immediate care.
Despite the public recognition, both say they were simply doing what anyone should do.
“I think it feels great knowing that we were there in that time to help,” Newton said. “But at the same time, I know both of us would do that for anybody.”
Mya admitted the ceremony made her nervous — but also proud. Her aunt focused on the latter.
“It makes me really proud,” Newton said. “She’s always looking out for people. She’s a really great kid.”
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