Mt Eliza Triple Zero Hero recognised at Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority awards
WHEN Leo Hill found his mum, Holly, unable to speak or move he knew he had to be brave.
South East
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WHEN Leo Hill found his mum, Holly, unable to speak or move he knew he had to be brave.
Leo, who was just nine years old at the time, took charge, phoning 000 for help.
His actions were recognised yesterday with an Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) award.
● Brave kids save lives after calling for triple-0 for help
The Mt Eliza Junior Triple Zero Hero said the September 21 incident last year was “scary and stressful”.
“I didn’t know if I should call or not,” he said.
Mrs Hill said Leo asked her ‘Should I call an ambulance?’ but she was unable to answer.
“Then he said ‘Can I call an ambulance?’.”
“When I didn’t answer he said ‘I’m calling an ambulance’.”
Mrs Hill was suffering from a hemiplegic migraine which has similar symptoms to a stroke and can lead to temporary paralysis and an inability to communicate.
At the time she was at home with Leo, his sister Luca, 8, and brother Ryan, then two years old.
“Leo was very calm on the phone. I am just so proud of him,” Mrs Hill said.
“Luca also did a great job while Leo was on the phone, keeping an eye on her baby brother, and looking out for the ambulance.”
The family heard a recording of the phone call for the first time at the awards ceremony yesterday.
“It brought the stress of it all back, actually,” Leo said.
Leo and his Mum also had the chance to meet the operator who took the call, Elie Rogers.
“It was lovely to meet her and thank her in person,” she said.
Mrs Hill said the family was sharing their story in the hope of encouraging other children to phone 000 when they thought they needed help.
“It’s hard for kids to make that decision and by telling them what Leo did we’re hoping they will be brave enough to call if they need to.” she said.
“You don’t have to decide if it’s bad enough to call, just call and the calltaker will know what to do,” Leo said.
Leo was one of 51 children to receive an ESTA award this year.
ESTA’s acting chief executive Ben Piper said the awards highlighted the importance of teaching children and young people when and how to call triple-0.