Malaysian Lifeguard Praised For Swiftly Rescuing Drowning Toddler Near Pool Slide
Shuhada told SAYS the incident occurred at 6.30pm on Monday, 18 November.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 22 Nov 2024, 12:20 PM — Updated about 1 month ago
A lifeguard working at Hard Rock Hotel Penang has been praised after a video showing him dashing into a pool to rescue a drowning toddler went viral
The video was uploaded by content creator @stapagonjeng, who captured the incident while his wife, Shuhada, was filming her family playing in the children's pool.
The nine-second video shows the lifeguard swiftly diving into the pool to rescue the girl, who was submerged near a slide.
Speaking to SAYS, Shuhada said the incident occurred at 6.30pm on Monday, 18 November.
"The girl's parents checked on her after she was rescued.
"She was shocked and frightened, crying as she was brought out of the pool. Her brother was still on the slide during the incident," said Shuhada.
At the time of writing, the video has garnered over four million views and 89,000 likes
Many netizens lauded the lifeguard for his swift actions.
"Steady, [lifeguard]. He saved a life," read a top comment.
"The staff at the hotel are great. They are always alert at the pool. I have stayed in the hotel many times," wrote a TikTok user.
Meanwhile, someone asked who the toddler's parents were, raising concerns about the danger posed by the pool’s water level, which reached an adult's waist.
@stapagonjeng replied that the parents are believed to be foreign tourists.
"The lifeguard is really monitoring the kids who are playing in the pool. Where are the kids' parents? Are they eating pizza? The pizza [at the hotel] is delicious," remarked another netizen.
In response to SAYS, Hard Rock Hotel Penang stated that the safety and wellbeing of its guests are its top priorities.
"Our lifeguards are fully trained and qualified to respond swiftly and effectively, ensuring a safe environment for guests.
"[In this incident], with the timely intervention of the lifeguard, the child was rescued unharmed and immediately reunited with the parents, who were then able to continue enjoying their vacation," the hotel said when contacted.
