MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. —
A 20-year-old Martin County woman is being honored for rescuing a 3-year-old girl from drowning in an apartment pool, an act that earned her the first-ever Heroic Heart Award.
Three-year-old Luna Hernandez, described as shy in front of cameras, clung to her new best friend, Madison Isler, during a recent meeting. Isler, who calls Luna the “unicorn baby,” explained the significance of the nickname.
“Because this doesn’t happen. Drownings don’t end like this. Especially silent ones. When they’re babies 3 years old like this, they just go under, slip right under really quick. And she’s a unicorn,” Isler said.
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The incident occurred on Aug. 23 when Isler noticed Luna lying motionless at the bottom of the pool at their apartment complex.
“I had to go get my hair clip that I left on, like, the opposite side of the pool. And as I was walking, I saw a shadow, and it kind of looked like a smudge on your sunglasses,” Isler said.
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Isler immediately jumped into the pool and pulled Luna out of the water. Seeing the child was blue, unresponsive, and not breathing, she began CPR while shouting for someone to call 911.
A pediatric intensive care unit nurse heard the commotion and rushed to help.
“There were at least 10 adults at the swimming pool when she went down. So, it just happens right in front of you and silently quick, so for me to walk by and see it was a pretty slim chance. I call her the unicorn baby,” Isler said.
Martin County fire officials presented Isler with the first-ever Heroic Heart Award. Her father, who works for Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, and her mother, who retired from the department, were present to celebrate the moment.
“Because of the actions of one young woman who happened to be at the right place at the right time, Luna was given another chance. A chance to go home, a chance to grow up, a chance to make memories with her family. A chance to live a life that she was waiting for, ” fire Chief Chad Cianciulli said. “Madison is an incredible young woman.”
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Luna’s mother, Kristine Hernandez, who was out of town when the incident occurred, shared photos of her daughter’s big smile and expressed her gratitude for Isler’s actions.
“Stopping on the way to the pool to get a hair clip. There’re just minor little details in the story that it’s God’s work that he put her when we needed her, like at the right place, at the right time,” Kristine Hernandez said.
She also emphasized that accidents could happen to anyone.
“I’m just thankful for the life that Luna gets to live now,” she said.
Isler will be honored at an upcoming Martin County Commission meeting.