Two-year-old Annunziata ‘Nunzi’ Newell toured Phoenix Fire Station 57 for the first time along side her mom, dad and three siblings.
Wednesday was a special day for her, not because she got a princess dress, sticker or cool fire hat. But, because she got to meet her heroes.
Bill Newell recounted the scariest moment of his life on February 22. “We were getting ready for dinner, and we were actually going to sit outside,” he said.
It was moments later, Bill found Nunzi lifeless in their pool near 27th Avenue and Baseline Road.
“I pulled her out and immediately started CPR,” he remembers. Teresa Newell, Nunzi’s mom, urgently called 911. Soon after they heard the sirens.
A crew from Station 57 of the Phoenix Fire Department arrived at their home. Captain Scott Waltrath, Phoenix Fire recalls it being, “a very high stressful situation.”
Captain Anthony Harrison, Phoenix Fire and Paramedic was one of the first on scene. He said, “I have kids, I’m a father so it was just traumatizing to see something like that.”