Audio reveals how girl, 4, did CPR and dialled 999 to save mum's life

Listen: Girl, 4, call 999 and performs CPR after mum collapses

Audio footage has captured the moment a four-year-old called 999 and performed CPR to save her mother's life after telling operators: "Mummy's not breathing."

Daisy Hamer rang for an ambulance then managed to follow instructions to save her mum as she lay unconscious on her bed.

Aimee Hamer, 40, had started to feel unwell at around 2pm on 23 May last year. Her husband was not home at the time, so she took Daisy and her other daughter, aged two, to bed with her. She gave Daisy her mobile so she could watch YouTube videos, but the child ended up using the phone to dial 999 when her mother became unresponsive.

Daisy, of Walesby, Nottinghamshire, can be heard telling call operators: "My mummy has fainted. She's not talking to me. My mummy's not breathing."

But the brave girl was able to answer all the questions asked by the 999 handler and follow all the instructions she was given, and this week received a bravery award from East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) for coming to her mum's rescue.

Daisy performed CPR when it was confirmed that Hamer had stopped breathing - with the help of her two-year-old sister Molly.

When asked to tilt back her mum's head to clear the airway, the schoolgirl can be heard saying: "Molly is doing it, my little sister. She's only two." And with Molly's assistance, Daisy got her mum breathing again. She can then be heard telling the operator: "Mummy has woken up."

Daisy also gave the postcode of her address using the phonetic alphabet so paramedics could get there to help.

Mum taught children how to call 999

Hamer, who lives with a long-term heart condition, vitamin deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia, struggles on a daily basis with dizziness and extreme tiredness. If the symptoms become too severe, this can lead her to faint and because of this, she was keen to teach her four children how to call 999 in an emergency.

The mum-of-two said: “I taught Daisy and my other children the phonetic alphabet by making a rhyme out of our postcode to make it fun and memorable. While I’ve had other funny turns previously, the kids were never on their own with me as my husband was there to call 999, but Daisy would always get involved by fetching me a cushion and blanket.

“I always knew there may be the possibility that one day I would faint or become unconscious in front of the kids while my husband was not there, which is why I taught them how to call 999 and not be afraid to do so in an emergency.

“All I remember from that day is going to bed feeling unwell, and the next minute coming around to an ambulance crew, police and one of our neighbours in my bedroom. Daisy is amazing and so grown up for her age.

“After what happened, Daisy has decided that she wants to become either a paramedic or a surgeon when she is older.”

What should you do if you call 999 by accident?

Police have issued advice on what to do if you call 999 by mistake, after a rise in accidental calls to the emergency services.

Accidental calls could be a result of pocket dialling or children making the call, and police forces across the UK have warned of a new feature on some Android phones which saw an uptick in inadvertent silent 999 calls. The Emergency SOS feature on the phone calls when the side button is pressed repeatedly – more likely when a phone is moving around in a pocket or bag.

Police stress that explaining what has happened is better than simply hanging up before speaking, as this could lead to further action and wasting police and call operators’ time.

At times when the person making the call is too scared to speak or make a noise and does not speak or answer questions, the operator will ask the caller to press 55 from a mobile phone and the call will be transferred to the police. If you do not press 55 the call will be ended.

If you or a child in your care and makes a 999 call, police say you should explain what happened before hanging up the call. But if you do hang up before speaking the call handler will then take time out to check the caller is not in danger or unable to speak due to a medical emergency.

If you hang up without speaking the operator will process it as a "silent call" and an officer will try to call you back or visit your home address to make sure everything is OK. Replacing the handset on a landline could still mean the call is connected for 45 seconds in case you pick it up again.

Recommended reading

• Boy, 3, calls 999 after mum collapses at home (Yahoo News UK)

• Police reveal exactly what you should do if you call 999 by accident (Yahoo News UK)

• Does your child know how to call 999 in an emergency? (West Mercia Police)

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