A Postal Service letter carrier was honored with an award Tuesday morning for his heroic actions after saving a 7-year-old girl from a dog attack last month in Rock Hill.
Mark Pizzo was making the rounds on his route when he heard a child screaming and ran towards the backyard where the noise was coming from.
When he got to the yard he saw a pit bull attacking Kayden White, dragging her under a trampoline with her head in its mouth.
Pizzo sprang into action and hit the dog in the head until it let the child go. He then placed the girl on the trampoline, out of harm’s way.
A neighbor ran over to help but was also attacked by the dog. Pizzo was able to help free the man but then the dog jumped onto the trampoline and grabbed the girl’s jacket.
The men were able to pull the dog away and Pizzo carried the girl to a safe area and called 911.
The girl is still recovering and doctors said it took seven staples to close the bite wounds on her head.
"She was running around and playing like nothing happened," Pizzo said. "It's amazing how resilient children are. I'm just glad I was there to help."
Animal Control captured and euthanized the dog.
The neighbor suffered minor scrapes and Pizzo managed to make it through the attack with no injuries.
