Hughenden boy Michael Harwood gets bravery award for staying cool in emergency

With his mum badly burned, a NQ boy remained cool under pressure while seeking help, earning him a bravery award. Watch the video.

You never know when an emergency situation might arise, and for 12-year-old Hughenden boy Michael Harwood, it was while he was playing with his dog Maggie that he heard his father yelling for help.

His mum Markeeta, a teacher’s aide at Hughenden State School, had been helping to fix the family’s lawn mower in May 2024 when it erupted in a fireball upon being restarted, setting her hair on fire and burning her upper body.

Tasked with calling triple-0 for help while his parents applied cold water to the burns, Michael set a stellar example of what to do in an emergency by remaining cool under pressure as he contacted Townsville-based Queensland Ambulance Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) Daniel Ryland.

Michael described the situation as being “insane”, where he was “absolutely freaking out mentally” but not visibly.

Michael Harwood, 12, congratulated by Emergency Medical Dispatcher Daniel Ryland after receiving an award for bravery. Picture: Leighton Smith.

“I’ve never dealt with one like this before. I grabbed (my mum’s phone), called triple-0, and Daniel picked up,” Michael said.

“(He asked) about what happened to my mother … (and said) to stay with my mum until the ambos arrived.”

An EMD for the past seven years, Mr Ryland said he could tell very quickly that he was speaking with a child instead of an adult, which was sometimes a tricky situation to manage.

Markeeta Harwood in hospital receiving treatment for her burns. Picture: Supplied.

Michael Harwood, 12, got to experience an ambulance first-hand when he visited Townsville Ambulance Station on Friday. Picture: Leighton Smith.

“I talked Michael through what was required from me, and he remained calm and collected the entire way through, gave me the information that I needed to get the job in and get the ambulance on the way, and then also followed the directions that I was providing to assist mum with her burns,” Mr Ryland said.

“I recall getting off the call to Michael and his family and saying to the supervisor, ‘I want Michael to get a bravery award’, so we went through the process of nominating (in) recognition for extreme bravery shown in an emergency situation.”

Markeeta Harwood points to her healed burns, next to her heroic son Michael, 12, who received an award for bravery. Picture: Leighton Smith.

Mrs Harwood was taken to Hughenden Health Service before being flown by the Royal Flying Doctors to Townsville Hospital where she spent a few days receiving treatment, which have since healed well.

In a rare opportunity, Mr Ryland was able to present Michael with his bravery award in person on Friday, which Michael says will take pride of place on his shelf alongside his other awards.

Originally published as Hughenden boy Michael Harwood gets bravery award for staying cool in emergency