North Bellmore Boy to Receive NY State Senate Liberty Medal

David Collins, an 11-year-old North Bellmore resident who rescued a boy from drowning  at a graduation party in June, will be presented the New York State Senate Liberty Medal by Senator Charles Fuschillo, R-Merrick and Assemblyman David McDonough, R-Merrick, on Friday.

While in a pool with other children, Collins noticed another boy laying in the bottom of the pool’s deep end. While the other children thought the boy was playing, Collins immediately swam to the deep end, dove down ten feet, pulled the lifeless boy up to the surface and alerted adults. Adults then performed CPR and the boy’s life was saved.

The New York State Senate Liberty Medal is one of the highest civilian honors that a New Yorker can receive. The award is given to individuals who have merited special commendation for exceptional, heroic, or humanitarian acts and achievements on behalf of their fellow New Yorkers.