Hotel Worker Honored For Saving Drowned Toddler’s Life In Windsor Locks

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — A hotel maintenance worker was honored Wednesday for his efforts in saving a drowned toddler’s life last August in Windsor Locks.

Yordy Sanchez was honored by the Town of Windsor Locks and the Windsor Locks Police Department, while receiving national recognition from the American Red Cross, for his “heroic, life-saving actions” on Aug. 12, 2025, when a “routine afternoon turned into a critical emergency,” according to police.

Police said that at around 3:10 p.m. at the Ramada Inn on South Center Street, a 2-year-old girl in the pool area “slipped underwater unnoticed for over a minute.”

“When family members spotted her, she was completely unresponsive,” police wrote in a post on Facebook. “At that moment, Ramada Inn maintenance employee Yordy Sanchez walked into the pool area for a routine water quality check. He immediately noticed the panic and a family member holding the unresponsive toddler.

“Yordy instinctively sprang into action. The child was blue in the face and not breathing. Drawing on his past training as an Ecuadorian military reservist, Yordy immediately began CPR. Thanks to his swift actions, the child was resuscitated, expelled water, and started breathing on her own.”

Windsor Locks police submitted Sanchez's name for national recognition from the Red Cross for his heroic deeds.

“As a result, we were honored to have Richard Branigan, regional CEO of the American Red Cross covering Connecticut and Rhode Island, personally present Yordy with the prestigious American Red Cross Lifesaving Award: the Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action,” police wrote. “This national award is reserved for individuals who step up in a time of emergency to save a life, exemplifying the true spirit of humanitarian service.”

Windsor Locks Police Chief Eric Osanitsch said, “The word 'hero' is thrown around a lot these days, but today we are honoring someone who truly defines the meaning. In a moment of absolute panic, Mr. Sanchez did not hesitate to step in, use his training, and save a child's life. His selfless actions represent the very best of our Windsor Locks community."