RI'ers commended for lifesaving deeds

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- State and local officials held a ceremony at the state house Wednesday to recognize a group of Rhode Islanders for their selfless actions.

Many heroic stories were put on display in Providence, including one where a local sergeant saved a child's life.

Two-year-old Juliana Correia was in attendance with her mother, though that would not have been possible had it not been for Sgt. Donald Pina of the Wyatt Detention Center.

"I pulled over, started screaming hysterically, and Sergeant Pina stopped and helped save her life," said Correia's aunt, Nancy Dalomba.

Pina walked out into a busy Providence intersection and performed CPR on Correia until she was breathing again. He was awarded for his heroism by receiving the State Lifesaving Medal at the ceremony.

"A lot of people ran by this little girl, paid her no mind, and ran to a bus," he said. "Getting on the bus was more important than dedicating a little bit of your time for an infant that's not breathing."

Also rewarded for their bravery at the event was the Newport Fire Department, who rescued a drowning swimmer off the coast of Brenton Point in August.

"It was a very rainy day, we were on the cliff about 20 feet up," said Dep. Chief Brian Dugan. "First rescue on the scene started throwing lifelines so he could grab onto something, but he was so exhausted he couldn't hold on to those lines."

Eventually, two firefighters fought the choppy seas and entered the water to save him, risking their own lives.

Providence police officer Michael Clary was also commemorated for running into a burning building and saving a family back in January.