South Bend Firefighters recognized for saving little girl's life

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – South Bend Firefighters were recognized Wednesday for their quick action at the scene of a crash in March.

The family of Amelia Haw came to the meeting, giving tearful thanks to those men.

“This is Amelia, and she’s alive today thanks to these gentlemen right here,” said Amelia’s father, Chris Haw.

The Haw family remembers the day Amelia ran into the road and was hit by a car.

“Chris was saying ‘Amelia please breath, please breath. She’s not breathing’ and all of the sudden we started hearing a gargly breathing coming from her,” said her mother, Cassie Haw.

So the family wanted to thank those firefighters  who responded in the knick of time.

The firefighters received recognition from South Bend Fire Chief Stephen Cox at the South Bend Board of Public Safety Meeting.

“I think it was nice today for them to see Amelia’s face and her being in the room when they arrived,” said Gerard Ellis, Public Education Officer for the South Bend Fire Department.

Amelia’s parents say they don’t like to think about what could have happened.

“The doctors at Riley said she may never wake up,” said Cassie Haw, “then they said she may wake up but she may be brain dead.”

But Amelia is back to herself and expected to make a full recovery.

Her parents say it’s all thanks to these firefighters.