Courageous 5-year-old earns medal for saving his mother in medical emergency

A FIVE year-old Limerick boy who helped guide paramedics to his home when his mother was having a medical emergency has been given a special bravery award.

Ben Holland was presented with a National Ambulance Service bravery award by members of the NAS in front of his proud parents and friends at St. Michael’s Infant School, Killaloe.

Last Friday, Ben received the special medal at his school from Keith Mullane, assistant chief ambulance officer Mid-West and Dan New, advanced paramedic.

Dan was one of the paramedics who came to Jennie’s aid that night and said the outcome could have been “very different” if it wasn’t for Ben’s quick thinking actions.

Living in Clare with his parents Jennie and Joe, the proud Limerick boy called an ambulance for his mother after she collapsed at their home in September.

Jennie has postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) which causes her to feel dizzy and faint, which is what happened on that eventful day.

The little boy jumped into action after his mother did not regain consciousness and dialled 999 with an ambulance arriving 12 minutes later.

Ben gave his full address to the emergency operator and as the house had no number, he told them the colour of the front door instead.

The junior infant told the dispatcher that his mum felt dizzy sometimes but this was different because he couldn't wake her.

Jennie said: “They asked him to open the front door for the guards and go to his neighbours to say his mum needed help but he said he couldn’t leave the house because he isn’t allowed out in the dark.”

When the ambulance dispatcher asked Ben if he knew his dad’s phone number he said he didn’t but that if they called his place of work and “asked for Joe” they would find him.

“The ambulance service said it was the kind of call you would get from an adult with the details he gave them,” Jennie said proudly.

“He let the guards in when they arrived and he was a little worked up at that stage but he calmly told them what happened and said the doctors were on their way.”

Jennie said Ben was a bit shaken after the incident and was worried about going to school the following Monday in case he needed to “ring an ambulance for mammy again.”

The Limerick city native said she only realised the extent of what her son had done when she saw him on stage next to the paramedics.

“I was very emotional. It was only when I saw him up there standing next to these adults that I realised how tiny he actually is!

“The outcome could have been totally different. I have only just realised that he did actually save me.”

The National Ambulance Service said they were delighted that the little boy had the foresight to act and wanted to recognise that with the bravery award.