CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Cora Jackson from Chesapeake is going into seventh grade and has already shown more bravery than most people.
She recalls what happened on Memorial Day 2024 at a friend's picnic and pool party.
"Everyone [got out of the pool] to eat since there was food, and a little girl, her grandparents, took off her floaties so she could eat. After she ate, she jumped back into the pool," Jackson said.
Jackson noted that the 5-year-old jumped into the pool without her floaties on and started to struggle. She says although the girl wasn’t splashing around or making a lot of noise, she knew she was in trouble.
"I jumped into the pool and did a rescue swim to bring her back [to the shallow end]," she said.
When asked how she knew what to do in the water, Jackson explained, "When I was at a pool with my dad, he taught me how to do a rescue swim in case of these incidents."
Jackson is also a Girl Scout. Over the years, the organization taught her how to stay calm in emergencies.
“They teach us not to be panicked and stuff and it helps, like, process the situation,” she said.
Shanise Harris, a representative from the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, said, "Incidents like these are always shocking, and you aren't happy that they happen, but you're really excited to hear that there was a Girl Scout on the scene who could make the situation a little bit better."
For her brave actions, Jackson is this week's News 3 Everyday Hero. She was also awarded a $300 gift card from our partners at Southern Bank.
She was speechless as tears welled up in her eyes. Jackson said she doesn’t really like the attention and that it was just the right thing to do.
This month, Jackson was also presented with the Medal of Honor, which Harris says is the highest award a Girl Scout can earn.
Harris emphasized that Jackson's leadership serves as an encouragement for other Scouts and a reminder for families about water safety.
"I think it's going to set an amazing example of what's possible, but also a cautionary tale to families this summer season," Harris said. "I just want to congratulate Cora again and thank her for using her courage and her confidence to make the situation better.”
This article was researched, reported, and written by a WTKR News 3 journalist. AI was used to minimize typos and ensure style continuity.
