Scottish Ambulance Service rewards Glasgow six-year-old 'superstar' who dialled 999 after mum took ill

A six-year-old boy has been awarded a certificate of bravery from paramedics after he called emergency services for his mum during an emergency.

Benji, from Drumchapel in Glasgow, phoned 999 to ask for help for his mum Becky Garrett after she started to drift in and out of consciousness on January 25.

Ms Garrett said she does not remember much of the day “except for waking up and feeling horrendous”.

“I was unable to take Benji to school and as the day went on, I gradually began to feel worse and worse,” she said.

Benji was given a certificate for his bravery. Handout

“Due to having such a high temperature, I really wasn’t with it at all and, from my understanding, I was drifting in and out of consciousness.”

Noticing his mum was unwell, “superstar” Benji took it upon himself to call for an ambulance.

“As you can imagine, this must have been so scary for a six-year-old to deal with but he did it and thanks to him I got the help I needed.”

Benji’s call was taken by Christine Sharkey, based in the West Ambulance Control Centre, and an emergency response was scrambled by dispatcher Angela Nicol.

Benji wants to be a firefighter when he is older. Handout

A Scottish Ambulance Service crew arrived, including Glasgow West Station technician and trainee paramedic Ailsa McConnell, second-year Glasgow Caledonian University paramedic student Melissa McCall, and paramedic John McCue.

“When we arrived, Becky was lying on the sofa,” Mr McCue said.

“She was responsive to voice, pale and said she was cold. When we checked her temperature, it was very high – more than 39 degrees. It was decided that she required further assessment at hospital. We ensured that Benji was with a responsible adult whom he knew before leaving for Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

“Benji was his mum’s hero that day, realising that she needed help and being brave enough to call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

“When we were leaving for the hospital, Benji gave his mum one of his favourite teddies so she wouldn’t be lonely.”

Benji’s mum has made a full recovery and, since the incident, she said other parents have told her they do not think their child would be able to call 999.

“I can’t even begin to describe how immensely proud I am of Benji – he really is my superstar,” Ms Garrett said.

“Although I have tried my best to make him aware of the importance of knowing what to do in an emergency, I am just so proud that he actually remembered and stayed calm enough to not only dial 999 but also had the initiative to phone a family friend to let them know I was unwell too.”

Benji visited the Scottish Ambulance Service in Maryhill, at the base it shares with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, on Saturday.

The six-year-old, who wants to be a firefighter when he grows up, met paramedic McCue, got a tour around the station and was given an award for his bravery.

“If there’s one message you can take from this, it is to please try your best to make them aware of the emergency services number and when is appropriate to use it – it really can make all the difference,” Ms Garrett said.

“Who knows what would have happened had Benji not done that for me – he really is my hero.”