A quick thinking 10-year-old girl is being honored for saving an unconscious 4-year-old boy from the surf on Plum Island earlier this month.Watch reportCollette Crooks was at Sandy Point State Reservation on Plum Island on Aug. 7 when she saw what she initially thought was a ball bobbing in the water. She soon realized the ball was actually a young boy, and quickly sprang into action."I just want to say if you have a kid who doesn't know how to swim, don't leave them alone at the beach. Always keep your eye on them 24-7 so nothing bad will happen," Collette said after being presented with a plaque from the Newbury Fire Department and a bouquet of flowers. Collette was at the beach that day with her mother, Sieglinde Aigner-Crooks, and a friend Maddie. They had been playing with two little boys when she saw that the 4-year-old, Cash, needed help. "I knew something was wrong right away because he wasn't breathing, and he was underwater and his eyes were open," Collette said earlier this monthj.She scooped the 4-year-old up and started running for the shore. Aigner-Crooks helped pull Cash to the sand."He was unconscious. He looked completely blue in his face, but covered in white foam; white foam oozing from his nose and mouth," Aigner-Crooks said earlier this month.Several beach-goers ran to help and rolled Cash onto his side. He eventually spit up the water and started breathing.Cash's grandfather and father, who had looked away for just a few moments, were grateful for the quick efforts.

A quick thinking 10-year-old girl is being honored for saving an unconscious 4-year-old boy from the surf on Plum Island earlier this month.

Watch report


Collette Crooks was at Sandy Point State Reservation on Plum Island on Aug. 7 when she saw what she initially thought was a ball bobbing in the water. She soon realized the ball was actually a young boy, and quickly sprang into action.

"I just want to say if you have a kid who doesn't know how to swim, don't leave them alone at the beach. Always keep your eye on them 24-7 so nothing bad will happen," Collette said after being presented with a plaque from the Newbury Fire Department and a bouquet of flowers.

Collette was at the beach that day with her mother, Sieglinde Aigner-Crooks, and a friend Maddie. They had been playing with two little boys when she saw that the 4-year-old, Cash, needed help.

"I knew something was wrong right away because he wasn't breathing, and he was underwater and his eyes were open," Collette said earlier this monthj.

She scooped the 4-year-old up and started running for the shore. Aigner-Crooks helped pull Cash to the sand.

"He was unconscious. He looked completely blue in his face, but covered in white foam; white foam oozing from his nose and mouth," Aigner-Crooks said earlier this month.

Several beach-goers ran to help and rolled Cash onto his side. He eventually spit up the water and started breathing.

Cash's grandfather and father, who had looked away for just a few moments, were grateful for the quick efforts.