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Pode Hole five-year-old pupil at St Bartholomew’s Primary School receives East Midlands Ambulance Service bravery award following lifesaving 999 call to help mum having seizure




The spotlight shone on brave Lola Brisbane who made a lifesaving 999 call when her mum collapsed having a seizure.

The impressive five-year-old school girl from Pode Hole was ‘happy’ to be presented with her certificate on Monday in front of proud parents James and Kirsty Brisbane, teachers and Apple classmates at St Bartholomew’s Primary School in West Pinchbeck. The award will take pride of place in her bedroom as a reminder of her quick-thinking actions.

Since featuring on the front of this week’s Lincolnshire Free Press, Lola’s story has travelled far beyond the county — and was featured on BBC Breakfast.

Members of East Midlands Ambulance Service, Tim Higham-Jones, Glynn Roache and Helen Pearl responded to the medical emergency and gave Lola her award praising the youngster for staying calm on the phone as mum Kirsty suffered an epileptic fit.

Lola , 5, and mum Kirsty Brisbane. PHOTO: JENNY BEAKE
Lola , 5, and mum Kirsty Brisbane. PHOTO: JENNY BEAKE

Lola, who is on the school council and wants to be a teacher when she is older, said she was ‘happy and excited’ to receive the award and that her parents ‘are really proud’.

Visibly emotional, Lola’s mum Kirsty Brisbane said: “We are really proud of her and Lola said she will put the award in her bedroom so every time she wakes up she can see it.

“I don’t think she understands the enormity, and she didn’t know how much she had done until the bravery award.

Kirsty Brisbane with Lola, 5, in her presentation to Apple class, St Bartholomew's with teacher Miss Cannon. PHOTO: JENNY BEAKE
Kirsty Brisbane with Lola, 5, in her presentation to Apple class, St Bartholomew's with teacher Miss Cannon. PHOTO: JENNY BEAKE

“Lola was taught if anything happened this is what we need to do and she knows to get a grown up.”

On the fateful day April 5, however, Lola was alone with Kirsty when her mum fell off the sofa and had a seizure.

Calmly phoning 999 from the Apple Watch on Kirsty’s wrist, the plucky youngster spoke to emergency medical advisor Tim Higham-Jones, who had started the job 16 months ago.

Tim Higham-Jones, Glynn Roache, Helen Pearl, East Midlands Ambulance Service with Kirsty Brisbane and Lola Brisbane, 5. PHOTO: JENNY BEAKE
Tim Higham-Jones, Glynn Roache, Helen Pearl, East Midlands Ambulance Service with Kirsty Brisbane and Lola Brisbane, 5. PHOTO: JENNY BEAKE

He said: “I took the call from Lola who said mummy’s not very well and is on the floor and I used the pathway system to ask questions and it sounded serious as she told me that mum was lying down not awake and I stayed on the phone with her.

“At aged five Lola was brilliant and she knew her address, name, and date of birth and she coaxed the dog out of the room as dogs can be volatile when strangers (paramedics) turn up.

“I have never had this experience with someone so young, the knowledge she had and knowing where she was.

Lola Brisbane, 5, got to sit in an ambulance following her award certificate presentation. PHOTO: JENNY BEAKE
Lola Brisbane, 5, got to sit in an ambulance following her award certificate presentation. PHOTO: JENNY BEAKE

"I mentioned it to my team leader and it was escalated and now she is receiving the bravery award.”

Meanwhile Lola’s aunt Emma, Kirsty’s sister-in-law had also been electronically alerted and rushed over to help as emergency services arrived.

Glynn Roache, emergency medical technical and Helen Pearl, paramedic who have worked together for 20 years were first on the scene.

Helen Pearl, paramedic who attended the incident, with Lola Brisbane. PHOTO: JENNY BEAKE
Helen Pearl, paramedic who attended the incident, with Lola Brisbane. PHOTO: JENNY BEAKE

Mr Roache said: “Kirsty had had a seizure and was in a postictal state, the phase after a seizure and it can take a long while to come out of it.

“We have got to attain the end goal of taking care of the patient.

“If auntie had not arrived we would have had to take Lola with us in the ambulance.”

Lola Brisbane and Apple class St Bartholomew's got to look inside an ambulance. PHOTO: JENNY BEAKE
Lola Brisbane and Apple class St Bartholomew's got to look inside an ambulance. PHOTO: JENNY BEAKE

Lola has been praised for staying so calm in a frightening situation that many adults may not be able to achieve.

Helen Pearl said: “Lola is wonderful and quite switched on for a young lady.

“Our training kicks in and there is no point in us flapping if everybody else is flapping.

Lola Brisbane, 5, shows her bravery award to Apple class at St Bartholomew's. PHOTO: JENNY BEAKE
Lola Brisbane, 5, shows her bravery award to Apple class at St Bartholomew's. PHOTO: JENNY BEAKE

“Apart from Lola obviously!”

Lola’s special presentation day included her classmates being able to see inside an ambulance and test the sirens and specialised equipment.

Teaching assistant Mrs Elwes said: “ We’re very proud of her.”

Dad James added: “We know she is incredible.

Lola Brisbane in the ambulance following her presentation of a bravery award. PHOTO: JENNY BEAKE
Lola Brisbane in the ambulance following her presentation of a bravery award. PHOTO: JENNY BEAKE

“We are just proud.

“It has been a tough few months and she just takes it in her stride.”

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