A Venezuelan doctor who saved a one-year-old boy from drowning at a swimming pool in Georgia has been honoured by local police. The recognition came on a special day, as both the doctor and the child she rescued celebrated their birthdays. Dr Andrea Sansonnet was spending time outdoors with her family in Newnan, Georgia, in July when she heard a mother screaming for help. She rushed towards the swimming pool and began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a toddler who had been pulled unconscious from the water. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, the boy, named Maddox, is now two years old and recovering well. On Thursday, 12 November 2026, the Newnan Police Department recognised Dr Sansonnet at a community award ceremony for her quick response. The ceremony also marked the shared birthday of the doctor and the child whose life she helped save.
Ninety seconds in shallow water
Security camera footage reviewed by FOX 5 Atlanta showed how quickly an ordinary family outing turned into an emergency. The footage showed Maddox, who was one year old at the time, playing in the shallow part of the swimming pool. Within around 90 seconds, he went under the water and was seen floating without moving. His mother, Janay Shaw, noticed what had happened and rushed into the waist-high water to pull him out. Her screams for help caught the attention of Dr Sansonnet, who was sitting nearby with her husband and young daughter. Dr Sansonnet immediately handed her daughter to her husband and ran towards the pool. When she reached Maddox, the boy had no pulse, was not breathing and his lips had turned blue, FOX 5 Atlanta reported.Speaking to the broadcaster, Dr Sansonnet described how she reacted when she saw the child. “At that moment, I grabbed my baby and just, I said, my husband, take the baby. And I just jumped in the pool, ran, and I took the baby. I put the baby on the floor, and immediately I started CPR,” she told FOX 5 Atlanta. Another woman who was at the scene also stepped in to help during the rescue. However, Newnan officials told FOX 5 Atlanta that they had not yet been able to identify her. Dr Sansonnet continued giving CPR, using chest compressions and rescue breaths until Maddox started breathing again. Her quick response helped keep the child alive until further medical assistance could arrive.
A shared birthday and police recognition
Dr Sansonnet originally comes from Venezuela, where she trained and worked as a doctor. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, she is not yet practising medicine in the United States because she has been concentrating on raising her own young daughter. However, her medical knowledge proved vital during the emergency in Newnan. She knew how to respond and began CPR immediately after Maddox was brought out of the water. Her actions were recognised by the Newnan Police Department during its community award ceremony on 12 November. The event was especially meaningful because Maddox turned two on the same day, which was also Dr Sansonnet’s birthday.Maddox attended the ceremony with his mother, Janay Shaw, who spoke about how grateful she was that the doctor had been nearby when the emergency happened. Speaking to FOX 5 Atlanta, Shaw said she remains thankful that her son survived. “I thank God every day, even when he’s getting on my nerves, I’m just like, thank God. I just thank God that she was there cuz he wouldn’t have made it,” she said.A speaker at the Newnan police ceremony also spoke about the emotional impact of emergencies involving young children. The speaker explained that such incidents affect not only families but also emergency workers and the wider community. “I think it touches everybody’s heart a little different when it’s a child. Our children are our future, that’s the most special individual in our communities. It definitely hits a lot harder, hits home,” the speaker said, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. The police recognition also highlighted the importance of people being ready to help during emergencies, even when they are not working as medical professionals.
Silent danger of childhood drowning
Figures from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show how dangerous drowning can be for young children. According to the CDC, drowning is the leading cause of death among children aged one to four in the United States. Many childhood drowning incidents happen in swimming pools at homes or in community areas. Young children are particularly vulnerable because they can slip beneath the water quickly and may not be able to get themselves back to safety. Drowning is also often much quieter than people expect. Unlike scenes commonly shown on television, a person who is drowning may not be able to shout or wave for help. An incident can happen within minutes, even when adults are nearby. When a child’s airway is underwater, the lack of oxygen can quickly become life-threatening. A prolonged lack of oxygen can cause serious brain damage, making an immediate response extremely important.Health organisations, including the American Red Cross, stress the importance of starting CPR as soon as possible when someone has been pulled from the water and is not breathing normally. Chest compressions and rescue breaths can help maintain oxygen supply to vital organs while emergency services are on their way. Dr Sansonnet’s actions in Newnan showed how important a quick response can be. After Maddox was pulled from the pool, she began CPR without delay and continued until he started breathing again. The toddler has since recovered and celebrated his second birthday alongside the doctor who helped save his life. Meanwhile, local officials are still trying to identify the second woman who assisted during the rescue so that she can also receive recognition for her role.