GEORGIA — Five University of Georgia sorority sisters turned a road trip into an extraordinary act of heroism when they witnessed a vehicle plunge into a creek and sprang into action to save a mother and her two young children.

The women — Molly McCollum, Jane McArdle, Eleanor Cart, Clarke Jones, and Kaitlyn Iannace — were heading to Savannah for St. Patrick’s Day weekend when they saw the car go off the road and into the water.

Without hesitation, the group stopped, called 911, and jumped into the chilly creek to help. Inside the sinking vehicle were Cori Craft and her two sons. The sisters worked together to rescue Craft and her older child from the car.

However, the 4-year-old boy remained trapped underwater in his car seat. By the time the women freed him, he was not breathing and his lips had turned blue. That’s when Clarke Jones, drawing on her lifeguard training, immediately began performing CPR.

After roughly a minute of chest compressions, the young boy started breathing again. Emotional scenes followed as the child’s mother picked him up, and everyone at the scene broke down in tears of relief.

The quick thinking and bravery of the five sorority sisters were later recognized by the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, who honored them and named them honorary deputies for their life-saving actions.

This inspiring story highlights the power of courage, quick response, and the importance of knowing basic life-saving skills like CPR. What began as a fun weekend trip became a moment these young women — and the family they saved — will never forget.

The University of Georgia community and beyond have praised the sisters for their selflessness and heroism in the face of a terrifying emergency.