First aid girl Skye ‘saved my life’, says Albert, 77

A PERTH man says his neighbour “possibly saved his life” when she came to his aid after a fall.

Albert Garrick was returning home to his flat in Craigie on February 6 when he took a tumble down a flight of stairs.

He suffered a blow to his head and was badly cut. Hearing him call for help, Skye Innes, 22, hurried to the rescue. She held a compress to the wound and comforted him as they waited for an ambulance to arrive.

Skye has been living in the block for four years with her grandparents – but has known Albert since she was young.

The Asda worker, a trained first aider, told how she tried to keep the 77-year-old comfortable as they waited for help.

Skye said: “I heard Albert cry for help and when I checked over the bannister he was at the bottom in a clutter.

“I ran down the stairs and my granny phoned an ambulance.

“I didn’t have any bandages and my hands weren’t clean so I didn’t want to touch his wound.

“Our neighbour, Sarah, who lives on the top floor, was in and ran down as she heard Granny in a panic over Albert.

“She brought bandages and I kept pressure on his wound. It was crazy.

“I tried to make him as comfortable as I could and kept him safe so he didn’t bleed out.

“I’m glad he’s OK. If nobody had been there, I think he’d have bled out – which is a scary thought. I think I saved his life,”

Paramedics got to the scene within 20 minutes and Skye kept pressure on Albert’s head as they checked him over.

Albert, who was left badly bruised, said he was “recovering” and that the fall could have turned out a “lot worse” for him.

“Before I knew it Skye was down the stairs and she took control of the situation,” he said.

“She was talking to me all the time ‘Keep your eyes open, Albert, just talk to me. Don’t close your eyes.’

“If Skye hadn’t been there I could have lost consciousness. Possibly this girl saved my life. I’m grateful for her help.”