Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I’m on Paw-ly Patrol
Stefan, 3, rides down busy A-road on toy truck to get help for stricken dad
BRAVE Stefan Snowden shows how he rode to the rescue on his Paw Patrol truck after his dad suffered a life-threatening seizure.
The three-year-old let himself out of his home after an epileptic fit left Marc, 28, lying unconscious on the sofa.
He trundled his wagon a quarter of a mile down a busy A-road to get help – copying his heroes, the dogs who carry out rescue missions in hit cartoon Paw Patrol. Stefan was at risk as stunned drivers beeped and swerved to avoid him. And after two women stepped in to help him, the tot told police: “Daddy was poorly.”
Former factory worker Marc said: “I suffer from seizures because of my epilepsy so it is lifethreatening when I am on my own. I’m so proud of Stefan.”
Mum Carla Neve,
25, had nipped out for a few minutes when Marc suffered his seizure in the village of Twenty,
South Lincolnshire, last week. She said: “Stefan was definitely going for help. Marc suffers from epilepsy and they have changed his medication.
“Stefan knows how to get out of the front door and must have gone to get his trike.
“When we spoke to the police Stefan said ‘Daddy was poorly’.
“We are so proud of him and grateful to the two ladies.” Stefan pushed his truck down a lane outside their home, then joined the A151 and headed towards the nearby town of Bourne.
A local woman heard the commotion as cars beeped him and dashed to stop traffic and pluck him to safety.
Another woman then took him in and called the police.
Inspector Rachel Blackwell said: “We have so much praise for the speedy and brave actions of the first passer-by who put herself at risk to stop a tragedy happening to this child. Without her speedy actions the child could have been seriously injured or worse.
“The action of the second woman who opened her home and provided a safe environment was amazing.
“She entertained the boy while the first woman tried to track his family down. Dad is doing fine and the family are so thankful to these two amazing people who came to the rescue.”
Popular cartoon Paw Patrol launched on the Nickelodeon channel in 2013 and hit the big screen this year in Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups.
The dogs are led on rescue missions by a boy called Ryder in Adventure Bay.
Characters include firefighter Marshall, police dog Chase, helicopter pilot Skye, construction expert Rubble and water rescue dog Zuma.