A British woman who caught a toddler who fell from a hotel balcony has been showered with rewards for her actions.
Helen Beard, from Worksop in Nottinghamshire, was at a poolside with her son and partner at a Florida hotel when she heard a scream and turned to see a one-year-old girl dangling from a fourth-storey balcony.
She leapt up and positioned herself beneath Jah-Nea Myles just in time to catch her, saving the girl from certain injury. The toddler was not seriously hurt, though she did hit her head on the rail of a third-floor balcony during the fall.
The 46-year-old data analyst said she did not consider herself a heroine for her actions two days ago. She said: "It feels a bit daunting to be here for something that was instinctive. It felt like it was something anyone would have done and I feel honoured to be recognised in this way."
Ms Beard, who is on a 12-day holiday in Orlando with her partner and 10-year-old son, was given the Orange County Sheriff Office's Medal of Merit. She also received awards from a local branch of the chamber of commerce and the state Department of Children and Family Services.
In addition, the chamber gave the family passes and 100 US dollar gift certificates to Orlando's SeaWorld, Universal Studios and Walt Disney World theme parks.
"It is certainly one of the most remarkable stories of the year," Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said during a news conference.
"It was a very surreal event," Ms Beard said. "Luckily I had my flat shoes on and I managed to run over and catch her as she lost her grip. It all happened so quickly. And I just sat with her and tried to calm her down. Everyone was panicking around me because it was very hectic."
According to the sheriff's department incident report, Jah-Nea apparently slipped out through the railing of her fourth-floor balcony, but was able to briefly grab hold of it.
Jah-Nea's mother, Helena Myles, told deputies her daughter was being watched by a friend, Dominique Holt, at the time. Ms Holt said she had gone to the bathroom and then heard screams. She told officials that the balcony door may have been cracked, but that she was certain it was not wide open. DCF is investigating the incident.
