Rockhampton Girl Guide junior leader nominated for 2024 QBank Everyday Heroes Award
A Girl Guide’s heroism is being recognised after she bravely jumped into a Queensland river and helped a group of juniors – one of whom had been stung by wasps 13 times – after a kayaking trip took a terrifying turn.
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Rockhampton Girl Guide Emily Scofield has been nominated for the 2024 QBANK Everyday Heroes Award after rescuing a group of young girls from a swarm of vicious wasps during a kayaking exercise.
The 17-year-old Junior Leader was helping a group of girls to return to shore during an activity when she heard a separate group in distress across the river.
“A canoe with three girls aged under eight and their Guide leader had capsized in the water and drifted towards trees on the bank, and I noticed that one of the girls had been swarmed by a nest of wasps from a nearby tree. She was extremely panicked in the water,” Emily said.
“I heard the leader yelling for help and could see that no one else was close enough to get to them, so I jumped into the water and swam across to the two girls who were screaming in panic as they weren’t strong swimmers.”
Emily said she swam two of the girls back to shore while the leader comforted the other girl, who was greatly distressed due to the pain of wasp stings.
“When we got on shore, the leader called triple-0 and I assisted in getting the injured girl up the bank and to the roadside where our vehicle was.
“The girl had been stung 13 times and had live wasps still in her clothing,” Emily said.
“I assisted in first aid, helped keep her warm, reassured her, and kept her distracted until emergency services arrived.
“It was a very traumatic experience for everyone and could have been much worse for the girl who had multiple stings, but I am thankful it had a positive outcome.”
Emily is one of 23 finalists selected from across the state for the 10th annual awards which celebrate the exceptional achievements of people within Queensland Police, Fire, Health, Ambulance, Corrections, Public Service, Education and volunteers.
Winners will be recognised at the annual awards dinner at the W Hotel Brisbane on 11 October 11, 2024.
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Originally published as Rockhampton Girl Guide junior leader nominated for 2024 QBank Everyday Heroes Award
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