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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Glasgow Live reporter

Wee Glasgow hero, 6, dials 999 to help seriously ill mum then gives her teddy in case she gets lonely

A "superstar" six-year-old won the admiration of Glasgow ambulance crews after playing the hero during an emergency.

Mum Becky Garrett revealed that little Benji dialled 999 when she took seriously ill at home.

And when paramedics broke the news that they had to take his mummy to hospital, the caring schoolboy didn't panic, and instead handed over his favourite teddy so she "wouldn't be lonely".

The drama unfolded at the family home in Drumchapel when Becky woke up "feeling horrendous".

Drifting in and out of consciousness, she was too sick to take Benji to school, and barely recalls events of the day.

She explained: "I gradually began to feel worse and worse. 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.”

Instead of panicking, the quick-thinking lad realised his mum was in trouble and called the emergency services.

Becky - who had a temperature of 39 degrees - went on: “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 and have made a full recovery.

“I can’t even begin to describe how immensely proud I am of Benji - he really is my superstar. 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 was rewarded for his heroics with a visit to the Scottish Ambulance Service's Maryhill base, where he met paramedic John McCue - who attended the scene with Ailsa McConnell and Melissa McCall.

John said: “When we arrived, Becky was lying on the sofa. 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."

Since the incident, Becky said other parents have advised her that they didn’t think their child would be able to call 999.

She said: “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. Who knows what would of happened had Benji not done that for me - he really is my hero.”

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