Holbeach firefighters honour Whaplode brother and sister who tried to save their mum

A brave sister and brother who battled to resuscitate their mum after she had collapsed have received awards.

Lily Carter (16) managed to get Rachel’s heart started again by performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation for eight or nine minutes at their Whaplode home - using the same techniques she had learned from her mum - while brother Jaiden (12) directed Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue co-responders.

Despite their valiant efforts, Rachel sadly passed away after suffering a brain aneurysm but she went onto save the lives of eight other people by donating her organs.

Rachel had been adamant that she wanted to be organ donor after Lily underwent a kidney transplant in August last year and her husband Daniel has also recently had a kidney transplant.

Lily and Jaiden were presented with the Chief Fire Officer’s recognition awards from area manager Dan Moss.

Daniel, who is encouraging others to be a donor, said: “I am so proud of Lily and Jaiden.

“Lily has done a little bit of first aid. She had been the dummy while Rachel was learning first aid and she showed Lily want to do.

“She was able to use that to look after her mum.

“Rachel’s heart had stopped but Lily managed to get it started again.

“I would have panicked if I had been there but Lily was so calm and for Jaiden to go outside and tell the fire service where to go was also brilliant.”

Lily and Jaiden leapt into action on Friday, May 14, after hearing a thud. They found their mum was breathing shallow.

The quick-thinking pair called 999 for help but Lily had managed to get her mum onto the right position on the floor.

When Rachel stopped breathing, Lily began to perform CPR.

Daniel said: “We have been told that Lily did that for eight to nine minutes and got her heart beating again.

“When the fire engine arrived, Jaiden ran outside.”

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue co-responders from Holbeach Fire Station then arrived and took over the CPR from Lily.

Rachel was then taken to The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn for treatment, but sadly the bleed was too extensive.

Daniel said: “They told me that the only thing keeping her alive was the machine. Rachel was adamant that she wanted to be a donor after Lily’s transplant.

“We later got a letter to say that Rachel had saved eight people’s lives with her organs and she would have been chuffed with that. Rachel was always helping people.

“I am so proud of her and she did a really good job with the family.

“I would 100% encourage others to be a donor.”

Daniel is now recovering at home after undergoing a kidney transplant at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge on October 20. This will be life changing for him after dialysis three times a week.

He is looking forward to returning to the Highlands for a family holiday. They had previously been there with Rachel.

Daniel, Lily and Jaiden were invited to Holbeach Fire Station on Thursday last week for a presentation.

Area manager Dan Moss said: “Lily and Jaiden both did all they could in a traumatic and difficult situation where it would have been easy to panic. They should be really proud of their actions.

“We wanted to recognise this and offer our condolences to the family in tragic circumstances.”