'I Just Thought About My Own Kids': A Complete Stranger Saved This Little Girl's Life

July 16, 2026

A frightening afternoon at a Michigan beach turned into a story of courage and hope thanks to one woman who refused to stand by.

When a 2-year-old girl was pulled from the water unconscious and not breathing, Mariza Mojica immediately put her CPR training into action and helped save the child's life.

Mariza Mojica / Versluis Park / WOOD TV8

The incident happened Sunday afternoon at Versluis Park in Plainfield Township, Michigan. Around 4:30 p.m., Mojica saw a panicked mother rush from the water carrying her young daughter, who was unresponsive.

"Honestly, I just thought about my own kids," Mojica told News 8. "I would want somebody to do it for me."

At first, the terrifying scene left her frozen.

"At first I just froze," she recalled. "The mom was crying so I went over and took the baby out of her hands and started mouth to mouth."

Mojica is certified in CPR for infants, children, and adults through her job, and she immediately relied on that training. When the rescue breaths alone did not work, she switched to chest compressions.

"That wasn't working," she said. "So, I started compressions."

Moments later, the little girl began breathing again.

"It wasn't working, so I did both and she started breathing again," Mojica said. "Then, she passed out, and I did it again."

Although the rescue felt much longer in the moment, Mojica estimates she cared for the little girl by herself for only about two minutes before help arrived.

"It felt like forever," she said.

Thanks to her calm thinking and willingness to step in, the toddler survived the ordeal. According to a spokesperson for Plainfield Charter Township, the little girl has since been released from the hospital.

Mojica never set out to be a hero that day. She simply saw a family in desperate need and acted without hesitation. Her quick response is a powerful reminder that knowing CPR can make the difference between tragedy and a second chance, and that ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things when every second counts.