Off-duty cop saves child from drowning in Merrick

A 2-year old child was near drowning in a pool on Sunday afternoon before being rescued by a neighbor who happened to be an off-duty Port Authority police officer.

Doreen Moran, a 10-year veteran of the PAPD assigned to JFK airport, returned from work to her home on Thelma Avenue in Merrick when she heard her neighbor scream, according to Port Authority police. Moran saw her husband run to their neighbor's backyard and followed him.

Upon arriving, Moran found the child blue and unresponsive on the steps of a semi in-ground pool. She began back thrusts and then administered CPR.

Moran continued until the arrival of the Merrick Fire Department, who responded to a call about the drowning at 1:15 p.m., according to Ron Luparello, a spokesperson for the department.

“Thank god she was there,” Luparello said.

The department arrived to find the child was conscious and breathing. They transported the child, who is now in stable condition, to the Nassau County Medical Center before bringing him to Cohen Children’s Hospital for overnight observation.