PORTLAND, Texas — A 5-year-old girl is being hailed as a hero for saving her mother's life after the woman had a seizure and fell unconscious into their swimming pool Friday in Portland, Texas.
Little Allison Anderwald's act of bravery was captured on home surveillance video.
The video shows the mother, Tracy Anderwald, face down in the pool. Allison notices and swims over to her mother, pulling her toward the stairs at the shallow end and placing her head above water.
The child then runs for help and returns with her aunt, Tedra Hunt, and other relatives who work together to lift Anderwald's limp body from the pool.
"The doctors explained to us that had Tracy been underwater any longer, she probably wouldn't be with us right now," Hunt told ABC News. "It is truly amazing that this little girl, who’s actually also pretty small for her age, was able to save my sister."
Tracy Anderwald says she doesn't know why she had a seizure and lost consciousness. She was treated and released Tuesday from a hospital in Corpus Christi, 10 miles southwest of Portland.
Anderwald says Allison learned to swim at 2 years old and that she's amazed the child knew what to do.
