Girl, 11, drowns in hotel swimming pool while trying to save her little sister

A heroic young girl drowned while trying to save her younger sister after she fell into the deep end of swimming pool at an Ohio Quality Inn hotel.

Mackenzie Cornell, 11, was at a pool party at the hotel in Wheelersburg on Sunday when she and her nine-year-old sister fell in the water.

A Scioto County Sheriff's deputy and members of the Porter Township Rescue Squad arrived at the scene where people were performing CPR on the girls.

Her sister was resuscitated and emergency medical services took over performing CPR on Mackenzie. She was transported to South Ohio Medical Center where she was later pronounced deceased.

'Her little sister went into the deep end of the pool and couldn’t swim very well and her big sister went to save her and she ultimately died,' the girls aunt Helen Cornell told WOWK. 

'There’s no greater love than giving herself for her sister.' 

On the hotel website, a virtual tour of the pool area shows a 'WARNING NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY' sign.

Mackenzie had recently finished the fourth grade at Bloom Vernon Elementary where a vigil was held for her on Monday.

'She was an absolute sweetheart. Very loving and kind,' teacher Kristi Davis said.

Another teacher, Chad Benner, said that 'every time she came into class she had a smile on her face and very soft spoken.'

Principal Sandy Smith remembered Mackenzie as 'a sweetheart of a little girl' who was 'loved by so many.' 

Mackenzie's obituary described her as a 'girly girl' who loved shopping and her family.

'She enjoyed everything outside, always following her grandmother out to the garden and helping with anything going on outside,' her obituary said.

'She was funny, brilliant and enjoyed drawing. Most of all she loved her sister, her cats and dogs. She was the happiest when helping others.'

She is survived by her father, Chris Cornell, the grandparents that raised her, Lawrence and Bonnie Cornell, as well as her brother Jacob and sister Mackenna.

Her funeral is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. at Bloom Vernon Elementary School.