Employee recognized by City of Broken Arrow for saving child's life at hotel

The City of Broken Arrow recognized a citizen and Stoney Creek Hotel employee Tuesday for her "life-saving and heroic efforts" earlier this month. 

On Sept. 3,  a child slipped away from her parents and was discovered unresponsive in the pool. The victim was pulled to safety by her sibling when an employee, Marie Diaz, arrived.

Diaz only had a radio in her possession and immediately started to do CPR on the child after she realized the child was not breathing and had no pulse, said Broken Arrow Fire Chief Jeremy Moore. 

Diaz soon regained a pulse on the child and got the child to expel all the pool water. Diaz immediately called over the radio for help requesting a manager call 911. During this time Diaz continued to comfort the other child who was crying for their sibling. 

Once Diaz had the child conscious, she immediately left the pool with both children and teamed up with other hotel staff to get the children to their parents and to first responders. The BAFD arrived on scene and took over patient care. 

Fire department personnel on scene stated that, "Diaz is the reason the child survived" and her efforts made the firefighters' jobs easier. "Due to the efforts of (Diaz) there's no doubt she alone saved that child’s life. She and the hotel staff should be commended on their efforts and the quick action they took that certainly saved the child’s life."

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