When a deadly condition caused Rebecca Potts to collapse at home in Wigan, it was her quick-thinking daughter who saved her life.
Amelia Potts was just nine-years-old when she realised her mum had fallen seriously unwell, wasting no time running to the phone and dialling 999.
Rebecca, from Leigh, was just about to go into Amelia’s bedroom to wake her up when she became light-headed. As she collapsed to the floor, she hit her head on the doorframe and fell unconcious.
Schoolgirl Amelia quickly called emergency services and paramedics took Rebecca to hospital. It was later discovered the 28-year-old had sepsis – an often fatal and serious condition – and spent two weeks in hospital.
Luckily, the primary school learning support assisant made a full recovery – with Rebecca saying she would not be alive if it weren’t for Amelia’s help.
“It was early in the morning and I was just going into Amelia’s room to wake her up,” she said. “I remember feeling light-headed and then I collapsed. I banged my head on the doorframe and knocked myself out cold.
"Fortunately Amelia didn’t panic. She calmly rang 999 and explained to them what had happened.”
Amelia has since been nominated as one of East Lancashire Railway's 'Local Heroes' by her nan Dawn Garcia.
Rebecca is delighted that her daughter has been recognised for her actions, adding: “I’m so pleased for Amelia that she is getting the recognition she deserves. There’s no doubt that I wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for her actions.
“It was an emotional moment for Amelia when discovered that she had been made a Local Hero. She’s a really special girl and deserves it.”
Sepsis, also known as blood poisoning, is the immune system’s overreaction to an infection or injury. Normally our immune system fights infection – but sometimes, for reasons we don’t yet understand, it attacks our body’s own organs and tissues.
If not treated immediately, sepsis can result in organ failure and death. Yet with early diagnosis, it can be treated with antibiotics. Five people die with sepsis every hour in the UK, according to the UK Sepsis Trust.
Mike Kelly, Chairman at East Lancashire Railway, said: “Discovering such moving the and inspirational stories and achievements of our Local Heroes has been incredibly rewarding and humbling.
“Christmas is a time of giving and our unsung heroes exemplify the very best of unselfish community spirit in the north west and we’re delighted to celebrate and spoil them.
“For generations the ELR has been at the very heart of our local communities in Bury and we’re overwhelmed and overjoyed to be able to share part of their Christmas with our local heroes.”
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