Kenyan Nurse in US Hailed as Hero After Saving Drowning Child in Florida Pool

Country: United States (Florida)
Date Published: November 27, 2025

A Kenyan nurse living in Florida has captured hearts across social media after heroically saving a toddler from drowning in a community pool, with the story exploding on X (formerly Twitter) over the past few days. Elizabeth Mwangi, a registered nurse originally from Nairobi, was enjoying a family outing on November 25 when she spotted the unresponsive two-year-old boy at the bottom of the pool. Viral videos and eyewitness accounts shared by users like @KenyansInUSA (a verified diaspora account with over 50K followers) show Mwangi diving in fully clothed, performing CPR, and reviving the child until paramedics arrived. The post, which garnered over 25,000 likes and thousands of retweets by November 27, has sparked widespread praise, with hashtags like #KenyanHero and #DiasporaPride trending among Kenyan communities online.

Eyewitnesses and fellow swimmers quickly took to X to recount the dramatic rescue, amplifying Mwangi's story through threads and replies. One popular thread by influencer @MremboAbroad detailed how Mwangi, who has been working in the US healthcare system for five years, refused to leave the child's side until he was airlifted to a hospital, where he is now recovering. Regular users, including other Kenyan nurses in the diaspora, flooded the comments with personal stories of similar acts of bravery, highlighting the often-unsung contributions of Kenyans abroad. News accounts like @CitizenTVKE reposted the clip, linking it to broader discussions on the vital roles Kenyans play in global healthcare amid staffing shortages.

The incident has also ignited positive conversations about the Kenyan diaspora's impact, with users sharing stats on remittances and professional achievements. @DiasporaKE, a prominent verified handle, noted in a follow-up tweet that over 1.5 million Kenyans live abroad, many in essential services like nursing, contributing billions to Kenya's economy annually. Mwangi herself responded humbly on X, crediting her training from Kenyatta National Hospital and urging others to learn basic lifesaving skills. Local Florida media picked up the story from these X posts, interviewing grateful parents who called her "an angel from Kenya."

As the buzz continues, Mwangi's heroism underscores the resilience and selflessness of Kenyans navigating life overseas. While some threads veered into light-hearted debates about whether she deserves a presidential commendation from Kenya, the overwhelming sentiment on X remains one of national pride. With shares still climbing past 100,000, this feel-good tale offers a bright spot amid routine diaspora challenges, reminding followers of the extraordinary in everyday lives.