Forestville, New York, eight-year-old Mateo Ramos saved his 10-year-old friend's life by calling 911 when she fell 20 to 30 feet down a steep hill while trying to retrieve a basketball. Mateo made the call quickly, telling the dispatcher that his friend was hanging off a cliff and in urgent need of rescue.
The kids were playing basketball near the Forestville Fire Department when the accident happened. Matteo’s friend attempted to fetch the ball but slipped on mud, leading to her fall. For nearly five minutes, she hung onto a tree branch above the creek near the bottom of the hill. Mateo remembered his mother's advice to call 911 in an emergency and quickly did so.
Firefighters, including Kyle Barthel, a former chief of the Forestville Fire Department, and volunteers from Forestville and Silver Creek, were able to rappel down and rescue the girl safely. Both Barthel and Silver Creek Fire Chief Brandyn Griewisch praised Mateo's quick thinking and calm demeanor, saying that his actions are an excellent example for any kids who might find themselves in a similar situation.
Source: WKBW
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