Four-year-old praised after emergency call helps save mum from seizure - ‘He’s our superhero’

A 4-year-old has been hailed a “hero” after his quick actions helped his mum when she suffered a seizure.

Rue Kessell was at their Matapōuri home with her son, Asher, when she fell unconscious and suffered a seizure on February 27.

With dad Alan away at work, Asher managed to stay calm and dial 111, saying “Mum flake out, mum need a doctor”, before adding “yeah” when asked if she needed an ambulance.

His quick actions meant an ambulance was dispatched in time before Rue’s condition worsened.

Asher continued to stay calm when coached by police communicator George Nichols through the phone – and was able to check whether his mum was breathing, attempted to wake her and provided key details about her condition.

Nichols managed to contact Alan, who was only a few minutes away, while keeping Asher on the phone.

Alan rushed home to discover Asher on the bed alongside his mum with the phone in his hand.

“She was still breathing but didn’t look that good,” Alan said. “It wasn’t long and the ambulance arrived and took over.

“I’m just super proud of Asher.”

Asher dialled 111 after his mum, Rue Kessell, suffered a seizure and fell unconscious. Photo / Police

Rue was proud of her son, who was adopted from a family member at birth, for his bravery after teaching him how to use her cellphone to dial 111 last November.

“We taught him to dial 111 and when the person answered to say his name, where he lives and the house number,” Rue said. “Obviously he took it on board, but you never know with a 4-year-old.

“One minute he’s Spiderman and the next he’s another superhero.”

Rue said Asher’s quick thinking prevented an outcome that “could have been much worse”.

“My recovery could have been much longer, or this could have been much worse. I’m so thankful for Asher. I’m having tests to work out what these seizures are.”

School community officer Senior Constable Darron Goodwin paid Asher and his family a visit this week to present Asher with some gifts, including a framed certificate declaring him a “superhero”.

Goodwin said police wanted to acknowledge Asher’s bravery.

“Asher recognised something was wrong, called for help and stayed on the line,” he said. “Outstanding for a 4-year-old.”

Nichols echoed Goodwin’s sentiments: “I was – and still am – astounded by Asher’s calmness. His parents should be very proud. It could have been a very different call if he hadn’t held himself the way he did.”

Nichols said Asher was the youngest caller he had worked with.

“I’m so glad it was Asher on the line,” he said. “He really surprised me with how well he handled everything. The way he answered questions and checked on his mum was in a class of its own.”