Two young first aiders from Highbridge have been praised after using their training to help of their grandmother when she fell and hit her head.
Callum and Ellie-Mai Drewett, aged 9 and 6, were being looked after by Susan Stockwell, 69, but they ended up taking care of her.
“It was a lovely evening and Callum had been showing me his strawberry plants at the bottom of the garden,” said Susan, a former nurse and care worker who lives in Highbridge.
“As we walked back to the house, I slipped on the patio and fell head first onto the paving stones.”
“I was dazed and it took me a moment or two to roll onto my back. I fall over sometimes and once I’m down I can’t get back up. My wonderful grandchildren looked after me, though.”
Callum and Ellie-Mai are both St John Ambulance Badgers – the charity’s youngest volunteers – and set about making sure that Susan was fine.
Their first instinct, in line with their training, was to dial 999 and ask for an ambulance – but Susan refused and asked Callum to call his grandad, Will Huggett, for help instead.
“I’ve been well and truly lectured about that since,” Susan said. “The children knew exactly what to do and I should have let them get on with it.”
“But Ellie-Mai got me a pillow and blanket and kept talking to me, keeping me calm, while Callum was on the phone straight away, telling Will to ‘Come quick, nanny’s had a fall.'”
“I was in a lot of pain but so proud of them both. They were fantastic. I guess caring runs in the family.”
Callum and Ellie-Mai’s mum, Kas Drewett, was out for a meal with work colleagues while the drama unfolded and was delighted when she heard how her children had taken care of their nan, who was left with a black eye and a badly bruised arm.
Kas was a St John Ambulance Cadet as a teenager and enrolled her children with the charity’s youth programme to make sure they gained the same excellent knowledge of first aid.
Volunteering with St John Ambulance has been of particular benefit to Callum, who is autistic.
“It can be difficult for Callum to show emotions, but being a Badger has really helped him to show a much more caring and compassionate side,” said Kas, who is assistant manager at East Brent Pre-school.
“St John Ambulance has been brilliant for both my kids; when my mum needed first aid, they knew exactly what to do and didn’t panic at all. They’re amazing!”
Following Callum and Ellie-Mai’s heroic efforts, looking after their nan, St John Ambulance will be presenting them with Brave Badger awards shortly.
Pictured: Susan Stockwell, Callum, Kas and Ellie-Mai Drewett
