Six-year-old hailed as hero for rescuing her sister from their family car after it plunged into an icy river Student Candice Hicks’ car hit a rut and flipped over into a river while her three children were strapped in the back

A six-year-old girl has been called a hero after she rescued her two-year-old sister from their mother’s car, which had plunged into an icy river.

Student Candice Hicks’ car hit a rut and flipped over into the river in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada, while her three children were strapped in the back.

Candice, 28, panicked as the car begun to fill up with water with her children Sophia, six, Ethan, four, and Elise, two, trapped inside.

The i newsletter cut through the noise Email address is invalid Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription.

Mother shattered wrist in crash

Despite shattering her wrist in the crash, Candice managed to unbuckle her own belt and escape the vehicle, as did Sophia, but she struggled with the restraint on Elise’s seat, who was screaming. Her son Ethan had been knocked unconscious in the accident.

Quick thinking Sophia took it upon herself to help free Elise from the restraint.

She then climbed onto her mum’s back as she waded through the river. The six-year-old then scaled the riverbank to wave down a passing car while Candice stayed with Elise and Ethan, who was still trapped.

‘I thought we were going to die’

Candice said: “I thought we were going to die. I thought I wouldn’t be able to get my kids out and we would die.

“The two-year-old was crying and I managed to get my seat belt off, but my wrist hurt and I couldn’t do anything with it.

“Sophia was able to help her sister out of her car seat.

“My son was unconscious, he banged his head in the accident and it was terrifying.

“Nobody could see us from the road because of the drop. Thank God Sophia managed to wave down a car.

“I don’t know what I would have done if it was just me in the car with my two other kids.”

‘I’m not allowed to talk to strangers but my mum said it was OK this time’

Sophia added: “My mummy was driving and the car started going cuckoo on the road. We went right down into the river.

“I was in the back seat and I was so wet. I could touch the roof.

“My mummy told me to climb the rocks and wave at a car to help us. I’m not allowed to talk to strangers but my mum said it was OK this time.

“We were lucky because a truck stopped and he came to help us.”

Ethan luckily regained consciousness after he was cut out of his seat belt and the family were rushed to hospital by ambulance.

The children were unharmed, but Candice’s wrist required surgery to insert metal plates into her hand.

‘It was a very scary day’

Sophia said: “My brother was in shock I think. He was asleep the whole time and he can’t remember anything.

“When I got back to school I had two bruises on my head and I told my teachers what happened.

“I’m just really glad it was all OK. It was a very scary day.”

Sophia accepted an Act of Heroism Award on 16 January, granted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police force.

While Sophia is thrilled with her award, the first-grader does not foresee a career in emergency response.

“I was very excited when I got the award and my mummy says she will hang it up in my room soon.

“I don’t want to drive an ambulance when I grow up – I want to be a babysitter.”