Kayaker saves 5-year-old from drowning at Cape beach

SANDWICH, Mass. — A kayaker was at the right place at the right time Wednesday afternoon at Sandy Neck beach. Sandwich resident Michael Caggiano said he was more than 100 yards off-shore when he saw a 5-year-old girl screaming, trying to keep her head above water.

“The wind took her, took her right out," said Caggiano. “So, I was just kayaking along and as I’m getting closer I hear the mom screaming and I hear the little girl screaming.”

Caggiano said it was just fate that he was at the right place at the right time.

“It was very windy out there, there was a big off-shore wind coming in and this little girl was on one of those swan floats,” said Caggiano.

He said it was a fluke that he was even out there in the first place. Caggiano had taken the day off work, something he said he doesn’t do often. But today, he was thankful he made the choice to play hooky.

“I just started paddling to them, her mom was yelling, “Keep your head up!' and I yelled, ‘I’m coming, I’m on my way,’" said Caggiano.

Caggiano said that, within seconds, the wind took the girl into deeper water, he said her parents started to swim after her but he knew he could get there quicker.

“That’s when I saw the float out there and I heard the mom screaming," said Caggiano. “You couldn’t really see her head in the water, that’s when I yelled I was on my way and when I got closer, that’s when she fell off the float.”

He said he extended his paddle to her and pulled her into the kayak. As he paddled in, he picked up the girl’s mother who had made it about half way out.

Though, he credits the young girl for being brave. Very shaken up, he recalls her proudly stating that she had tried to keep her head above water just like she was taught.

Officials from the West Barnstable Fire Department said the child was evaluated at the beach but was not transported. Caggiano said he didn’t exchange information with the family but said they were very gracious and thankful for his actions.

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