September 17, 2019 10.53 am This story is over 54 months old

Bravery award for young girl who rescued unconscious mum

Well done Emily
Emily Guymer standing proudly with her Laverick Award. Photo: Anthony Sinclair/EMAS

A five-year-old girl from Scunthorpe was given a bravery award from the East Midlands Ambulance Service after rescuing her mum who fell down the stairs and was knocked unconscious.

Nicole Guymer had been using crutches to move around the house due to recovering from a previous serious back injury. As she got near to the bottom of the stairs she felt a sharp pain from a slipped disk, which made her lose her balance and fall.

Her young daughter Emily found her unconscious at the bottom of the stairs in their family home at 12.31pm on August 14. She remained calm and tried to wake Nicole up before using her mum’s phone to call 999.

Emily Guymer and her mum Nicole. Photo: EMAS

Emily checked to see if her mum was still breathing and unlocked the door, so the emergency services could enter the house.

The first to arrive at the scene was fast response paramedic Martyn Brown, who said that Emily helped to put everything into perspective. He was followed by ambulance technician Yvette Ray and paramedic Christopher Gough.

Emily Guymer with the ambulance crew. Photo: EMAS

Nicole said: “I had previously educated Emily on how to unlock and use my mobile phone in an emergency. Even though she is very young I knew it was important for Emily to know what to do in an emergency situation and could never take for granted that there would always be an adult around to guide her.

“I don’t remember a lot about the incident, but I have faint memories of Emily stroking my hair to comfort me.”

The ambulance crew, Emily and her mum Nicole. Photo: EMAS

Samantha Lyttle, 999 Call Handler, said: “Emily was very upset at the start of the phone call, but she was brilliant throughout. She didn’t know exactly what had happened to her mummy, but she listened to all my instructions which meant that Nicole was able to get the medical help she needed.”

Samantha, Martyn, Christopher and Yvette presented Emily with a Laverick award at a ceremony at her school – Willoughby Road Primary Academy – during the morning of Monday, September 16.

Emily Guymer and her school class. Photo: EMAS

The Laverick Award, in memory of paramedic team leader Nick Laverick who died of cancer on his birthday in September 2013, recognises children and young adults that have gone above and beyond to help another.