Four-Year-Old Delilah Praised for Helping 999 Call Handler During Mum's Suspected Stroke

A four-year-old girl has been praised by South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) for helping a 999 call handler and fetching a neighbour while her mum suffered a suspected stroke at home - and has now been given a bravery certificate after the family reunited with the crew who treated her.

In March 2026, Holly, a mum of three, was at home with her partner, four-year-old Delilah and their two-year-old twins when she developed chest pain, struggled to breathe and could no longer feel her hands or feet. Holly's partner dialled 999, but with the twins needing his attention, he passed the phone to Delilah, who spoke to Emergency Medical Advisor (EMA) Chloe in the Medway Emergency Operations Centre. Delilah relayed Chloe's questions to her mum and shared her symptoms, helping the call handler work out what response was needed. When speaking became harder - for Delilah, who has speech and language difficulties, and for Holly too - Delilah passed the phone back to her dad and went outside, knocking on three neighbours' doors until she found someone who could help.

The call was triaged as a Category 2 emergency, and a crew reached the family's home within 15 minutes. Delilah stayed calmly by her mum's side while paramedics assessed her; Holly was then taken to Tunbridge Wells Hospital with a suspected stroke. Six months later, Delilah joined her mum, dad and siblings at SECAmb's Paddock Wood Make Ready Centre to meet EMA Chloe, Operational Team Leader Alex and Paramedic Charlotte, who presented her with a certificate recognising her bravery - and let her look round an ambulance and switch on its lights.

Chloe, the call handler who spoke to Delilah, said: “Delilah did an incredible job. She listened carefully and passed my questions to her mum, helping us understand what was happening. It was lovely to meet her and her family in person and present her with a certificate for her bravery.” Holly said: “We're so proud of Delilah. It was a frightening moment for all of us, but she listened to Chloe and helped me answer her questions. She stayed by my side while the paramedics took care of me and remained calm in a very upsetting situation. It meant a lot to come back as a family and recognise her bravery.”

Source: South East Coast Ambulance Service.