A 12-year-old Wisconsin girl is being hailed as a hero after she saved her family from carbon monoxide poisoning when her father fell overboard during a boating trip on Lake Alexander.
Maisy Livingston sprang into action after her dad, Scott Livingston, accidentally slipped into the water while adjusting the boat's anchor. As the boat drifted away, Maisy noticed her younger siblings and mother were becoming drowsy—a telltale sign of carbon monoxide exposure.
"I knew something was wrong," Maisy later recalled. "Mom was slurring her words, and my brother could barely keep his eyes open. I remembered learning about carbon monoxide in school and acted fast."
The quick-thinking pre-teen immediately turned off the engine, opened all the windows, and used the boat's radio to call for help. Emergency responders arrived swiftly, pulling Scott from the water and treating the family for carbon monoxide exposure.
A Close Call on the Water
Authorities confirmed that the boat's faulty exhaust system had allowed the deadly gas to accumulate in the cabin. "Without Maisy's actions, this could have ended in tragedy," said Sheriff Dan Miller. "Her awareness and bravery saved lives."
The Livingston family has since recovered, and Scott praised his daughter's heroism. "She's my little hero," he said. "I couldn't be prouder."
Local boating safety advocates are using the incident to remind all boat owners to install carbon monoxide detectors and regularly inspect their vessels.
