Seven-year-old hero honoured with Bravery Award for calling 999 to save mum

Brooke Quantrill dialled 999 when her mum Chelsea suffered the attack at their home in Rochford just before 8am on the 23rd October.

Brooke’s call was picked up by call handler Stuart Leader in the Norwich Emergency Operations Centre. From the information Brooke provided Stuart quickly assigned the call as the highest priority – a category 1 – with an urgent need for medical help.

Paramedic Winston Chin and emergency medical technician Simon Knight arrived eight minutes after the call was made and were let into the house by Brooke where they found Chelsea initially unable to talk.

She was assessed to be having a potentially life-threatening asthma attack and was immediately treated with a number of medications to help her breathing and rushed to Southend University Hospital, where she was taken into the resuscitation area.

Chelsea has since made a good recovery but continues treatment for brittle asthma which she has had since she was a child. Brittle asthma is a rare and severe form of asthma characterized by unpredictable and potentially life-threatening fluctuations in symptoms.

Brooke’s actions in ensuring her mum received urgent medical treatment when she had this severe asthma attack earned her a bravery award from the ambulance service. She was presented with the award at Southend Ambulance Station in front of her proud parents, Chelsea and Chris, as well as the call handler she spoke so clearly to and the crew who attended.

Given Chelsea’s condition, Brooke was taught what to do if Chelsea had a severe attack from an early age. Chelsea and Chris are now urging all parents to teach their children what to do in an emergency and how to call 999.

Chelsea Quantrill said:

"In a moment of panic, Brooke showed incredible bravery by calling for help. Her quick thinking saved my life. I am forever grateful for her courage and the swift response of the paramedics.

“Teaching children how to contact emergency services gives them the knowledge and skills to act quickly in an emergency and I feel it’s important that all young children are taught how to do this.”

Simon Knight said:

“This must have been an extremely stressful situation for Brooke, but her bravery and composure ensured that we were able to get to Chelsea promptly.

“Had she not shown this composure this could have been a very different outcome for Chelsea.

“Winston and I both agreed on the day that this was worthy of recognition from EEAST. It also helps spread the importance of knowing what to do in an emergency for people of all ages.”

Winston and Simon were also keen to praise call handler Stuart Leader for keeping Brooke calm while they rushed to the scene.

Simon added: “Our teams in our three emergency operations centres are often the unsung heroes of the ambulance service and Stuart deserves great credit for keeping Brooke calm.”

Stuart Leader said:

“Child callers always leave a lasting impression, and Brooke is no exception.

“She showed extraordinary bravery, providing me with the critical information needed to secure a Category 1 response for her mum.

“Brooke’s courage and composure undoubtedly saved Chelsea’s life.”