Whitby toddler saves mum's life following epileptic seizure at home

A girl from Whitby has saved her mum's life following a seizure at home.

Emma Walker, 25, whose apartment is fitted with a Coastcall emergency support system due to her epilepsy, had a severe, potentially life-threatening seizure caused by an infection and was found unconscious by toddler, Eva.

Eva had previously been told the red button on Emma’s Coastcall pendant was only to be pressed in emergencies, so when she found her mother unresponsive and shaking on the floor, the youngster pressed the button and raised the alarm with call handler Debra Morton.

Coastcall is a 24-hour service, provided by Beyond Housing, that enables older, disabled or vulnerable people to remain living independently in their own homes for as long as possible.

Debra spoke with Eva for 13 minutes as the toddler kept up a commentary on her mum’s condition until Coastcall responder Michelle Booth and the emergency ambulance team arrived.

Emma Walker said:

“Eva was absolutely amazing. She’s occasionally been gently told off for pressing my alarm button for fun, but I’ve explained to her that she should only press it if it was an emergency and she couldn’t wake mummy.

“Thankfully that’s exactly what she did when I really needed help. If it wasn’t for Eva, the paramedics and the fabulous Coastcall team, I might not be here now.

"Every time I'm wearing the pendant, she's like 'I pressed that red button, I phoned an ambulance' every time she sees an ambulance now, she's like 'you went in that, I called for that'. I think she feels like she's done a really good thing.

Michelle Booth, Coastcall responder, said:

“Eva acted brilliantly. Her long conversation with Debra kept us updated until I arrived at the apartment with the paramedics close behind me."