3-year-old rescued from raging waterfall; anonymous hero comes forward

BELLA VISTA, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The man who rescued 3-year-old Melody Livingston after a 15-feet fall at the Tanyard Creek waterfall in Bella Vista claims he was, “just in the right place at the right time.”

Asking to remain anonymous, “Simon” reached out to Melody and her mother, Kiya, after the two shared their harrowing experience on KNWA on Tuesday afternoon. After two days of stormy weather in Northwest Arkansas, Kiya Livingston said she just wanted to show her kids a fun time.

“We hiked and hung our feet in the water for a while,” Livingston said about their trip on Tuesday afternoon.

But then just seconds later, Livingston heard someone yelling her name.

“When my friends yelled, ‘Kiya’, I saw her and she was already underwater,” Livingston said.

Panicked, Livingston raced down the side of the waterfall as quickly as she could. By the time she made it to the bottom, she said someone had already pulled Melody out of the water and her daughter was coughing up water.

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“We really are grateful to the man who pulled her out safely,” Livingston said. “If I didn’t believe in God and if there was no higher power, she would not be here.”

No broken bones, no fractures, not even a scratch. Livingston said doctors have not found any issues with Melody after such a close call.

But in the chaos after the waterfall incident, their hero disappeared in the crowd. So, Livingston took to Facebook in hopes to hunt him down to thank him.

Late Wednesday evening, ‘Simon’ reached out to KNWA to report he had connected with Kiya, but that he wanted to remain anonymous.

“I just happened to be in the right place at the right time,” ‘Simon’ said. “She’s a survivor, a fighter, and tough as nails. It’s a miracle she’s alive.”

Melody has a message for Simon: “Thank you to my hero.”

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