AN EIGHT-year-old girl became a hero when she saved another young girl from drowning in a holiday swimming pool.

Connie McTaggart dived down to pull the two-year-old toddler out of the water while she holidayed with her family in Majorca.

Connie, a pupil at St Joseph Catholic School in Stanford-le-Hope, spotted the girl sink beneath the water while in the pool and swam over to help.

She pulled her to the surface and got her out of the pool before raising the alarm and watching as the girl was revived.

Connie said: “I saw the girl in the pool and then she went under the water and didn’t come back up. I swam over and pulled her up so she could breath again.

“I wanted to help someone who was in trouble. I feel really good that I was able to save her and am glad she is OK.

“My mum and dad are really proud and I am looking forward to telling my teachers and friends about what I did.“ Connie was in the swimming pool with her brother Brandon when she spotted the other girl in difficulty.

When the girl was brought out of the water her mouth and eyes were wide open, was limp and her lips were blue.

Connie’s mum Paula Gracey saw what was going on and raced to the poolside. She revived the girl by blowing into her face, which led to the girl starting to cough up water.

Paula then took the girl to her mother, who had not seen the incident. It is thought they were also English tourists.

Paula, who lives in East Tilbury Road, Linford, near Stanford-le-Hope, said: “Connie was so brave and calm in the whole thing.

“We are so proud of her, she saved that little girl’s life, and was so grown up about it.

“I don’t know how it happened, but the girl’s parents were very grateful to Connie and couldn’t thank her enough.”

Connie has not had any first-aid training, but said she just knew what to do when the moment came.

Paula added: “I am telling everyone about what a hero she is. That girl would not be alive if it wasn’t for her.”