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Heroine Eloise, 5, calls 999 as dad collapses
A quick-thinking five-year-old girl has been praised for saving her dad's life by calling 999 – after seeing him collapse unconscious.
A quick-thinking five-year-old girl has been praised for saving her dad's life by calling 999 – after seeing him collapse unconscious.Just minutes after her mum had left the house, little Eloise Massingham, of Sycamore Road, Whittlesey, had the amazing presence of mind to reach for the phone after her dad slumped to the floor, due to his low blood pressure.
The resourceful child told emergency services: "My daddy is poorly. he is on the floor" before reeling off her carefully learnt home address.
And dad Leslie (50), who admits he is lucky to be here today, has now dubbed his daughter "my guardian angel".
The drama began after mum Rosemarie left for work at a local nursery and Leslie, who has a history of heart and lung problems and has his own oxygen supply at home, remained to look after his daughter.
Leslie said: "I was fine one minute, and then I felt a bit wobbly, and the next minute it all went blank.
"When I came round, I found the police in the house and the paramedics on their way to see how I was.
"It was then they told me that Eloise had called them.
"I was choked up. I was so proud."
While the emergency services were racing to the scene, Eloise had then put the phone down and gently connected her dad to his oxygen mask and switched the machine on.
Speaking to the Evening Telegraph from her home, Eloise said: "My daddy collapsed, and so I rang 999.
"I was scared as he was poorly, but everyone says I have been brave."
When the police arrived, they found the girl crouched next to her dad, who was starting to come round, and was sufficiently recovered that he did not have to go to the hospital for treatment.
The actions of Eloise prompted Cambridgeshire police to issue her with a certificate of recognition for her actions.
A police spokeswoman said: "Picking up the phone and alerting the emergency services was an extremely quick-thinking and brave thing to do when faced with a loved-one becoming ill.
"Eloise should feel very proud of herself."
Eloise proudly took her certificate into school for an extra-special show-and-tell, and even explained to the other children why calling 999 was so important.
And Hannah Graves, Eloise's teacher at Alderman Jacobs Primary School, in Whittlesey, added: "We are extremely proud of Eloise. she has been a very brave little girl and a great example to the other children."
But for Leslie, who has six other children, his little princess will be forever his special hero.
Leslie added: "I don't know what would have happened if it had not been for Eloise.
"Because of my health, we had taught her to call 999, but for her to remember it all at only five years of age is unbelievable.
"I could not be more proud of her for saving my life."
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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