From Scrabble to a Life‑Saving Heroics
On a cool Christmas afternoon in December 2023, the Cordova family was having a relaxed evening at their 10th‑floor condo in Singapore. A casual game of Scrabble was abruptly interrupted by a hear‑beat‑slicing cry from the pool. Little did they know that a childhood pastime would turn into a real‑life rescue story.
The Unexpected Call for Help
- They were enjoying a quiet afternoon when the brothers heard a desperate shout in the pool area.
- While Mikkaela’s dad (Jun) rushed to the guardroom and called 995, his children sprang into action.
- His 13‑year‑old son Joshua, who had been leaning on the balcony windows for a breeze, hurried downstairs to see the chaos unfolding.
Enter the Heroine—Mikkaela “The CPR Queen” Cordova
Mikkaela, a 20‑year‑old regulator and quality‑assurance ace, had taken formal swimming courses back in elementary school. Additionally, she had brushed up on CPR during a polytechnic study stint in Canada — a skill that would come in handy for the first time in her adult life.
- With her training, she dove straight into the 2.4‑metre‑deep pool and pulled out a 16‑year‑old boy who was simply… low‑key drowned.
- She stayed calm enough to perform CPR until the ambulance arrived, nailing the technique as if it were a regular day at work!
- As she fought to keep the teenager’s heart beating, one can almost see the date line scrolling: “May 3, 1987 – now smiling under a Singapore sky.”
From Heroic Dive to Community Lifesaver Award
Fast‑forward a few weeks: the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) honoured the siblings with their first Community Lifesaver Awards. Colonel Lim Boon Hwee, Commander of the 1st SCDF Division, applauded the kids for their cool‑headedness and bravery.
“It was a courageous effort to pull the 16‑year‑old boy out. You had the calmness and composure,” he said. “This is what we want members of public to do, to learn life‑saving skills such as CPR and have the confidence to administer them.”
Family Proud, Community Grateful
- Mrs. Laureen Cordova, the mother, proudly proclaimed her children’s actions as the “ultimate brave‑son‑acts.”
- The teenager’s family, now back in Malaysia, reached out to the Cordovas for a heartfelt thank‑you, underscoring the communal bond forged in the moment of crisis.
- Even the Manila‑born Cordovas feel a part of Singapore’s community thanks to this incident.
So, the next time you hear a cry for help or see a splash in the pool, remember the Cordova kids: ordinary youngsters who turned an average Christmas in Singapore into a heart‑warming rescue tale. And who knows? Maybe your next favorite heroic headline will be about you performing CPR after a surprise focus group!
