Liam Hedley and Hunter Marcello, two eighth-graders at Newfane Middle School, are being celebrated as heroes after their quick thinking saved the life of a woman and her dog in July. Their heroic deed took place at the Town of Newfane Marina.
Liam and Hunter were fishing and inspecting the upcoming fireworks display at the marina when they noticed a pink kayak overturned in the water. They saw a woman waving her arms, terrified and screaming for help. The woman had a large white dog with her, which was struggling to swim towards the shore.
Without hesitation, the boys sprinted to Liam's father's business, Headley Boat Company, and grabbed a dinghy to rescue the woman and her dog. It took them a few attempts, but they managed to pull the woman into the boat. According to Liam, the woman was turning blue and coughing up water when they reached her.
The woman was immediately taken to the pier where an ambulance and EMTs were waiting to provide medical attention. She was subsequently transported to a hospital where she received treatment for broken ribs resulting from the multiple attempts to get her into the boat.
Reflecting on the intense rescue, Liam shared that his father was visibly shaken due to the physical exertion required to pull the woman into the boat. Hunter added, "It was very nerve-wracking for all of us."
Middle School Principal Keith Crombie expressed immense pride in his students' bravery, stating, "Luckily, both these students love the water and would spend morning, noon, and night there if they could. If they hadn't been there, we don't know what would have happened."
Liam and Hunter will be honored for their actions during an upcoming board of education meeting.
8th-Graders Hailed as Heroes for Saving a Life in Niagara County
Information from independent reporting and WGRZ