HERO OF HEROES MAYA TURNER

A FOUR-YEAR-OLD who saved her mum’s life was recognised with the top award at the Your Heroes Awards 2018.

Maya Turner, now six, from Burscough was presented with an award for her bravery at the ceremony at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Southport.

Two years ago, Maya’s mum, Michelle Turner, had a fall at work due to a then undiagnosed heart condition, called postural tachycardia syndrome, and she began to worry it might happen again while she was alone with her daughter.

Michelle drew a picture of an ambulance for Maya with 999 written on it and explained when it would need to be used, then left it by the phone, hoping it would never be needed.

But when she collapsed at home seven months later, Maya quickly remembered the drawing and knew just what to do.

The four-year-old dialled the number, and she was also even able to tell the operator her address and, despite being very upset and frightened, stayed on the phone for seven minutes until the paramedics arrived to help Michelle.

On her phone, a tearful Maya told the operator: “My mummy’s falled over. “She’s still on the floor.” Michelle is incredibly proud of her little girl. She said: “Maya blew us away with her bravery and she probably saved her own life too, because there was food burning in the oven.”

At the time, Michelle was stationed at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, but the family has since moved to Burscough, and RAF Sergeant Michelle has left the service because of her medical syndrome, which means she can never be left alone.

After the incident, Maya drew more of the ambu- lance pictures to distribute to her friends “in case their mummies ever fall over.”

Michelle put this idea forward to the local authorities, and now an “in case of emergency” card has been distributed around the country to be placed by the phone in case others find themselves in similar emergencies.

Despite her brave actions, Maya was still very shocked to be named as the Hero of Heroes at the ceremony.

She said: “I love it. I didn’t expect to win it.

“I can’t wait to take it to school and show my friends.”

Michelle was also overwhelmed with pride. She added: “Maya is the proudest girl in the world, and we are so proud of her.

“Hopefully our story can remind others to teach their children about calling 999 - no matter their age.”