By Jodie Symonds
A 10-YEAR-OLD Kallista boy has been deemed a community hero by Ambulance Victoria after he saved his mother’s life in August.
Ambulance Victoria congratulated Jack Downard-Pengilly at Parliament House in Melbourne on Thursday 1 December.
Jack was home from school on Wednesday 31 August, while his mother Jane Downard was outside cutting tree branches.
While Ms Downard was cutting trees, a few gusts of wind caused another branch to fall, knocking another on the way and hitting her ankles; causing her to lose balance and smash her head on a rock beneath.
Jack panicked at first, but gathered himself to call out to a neighbour to call triple-zero.
He then came to his mother’s aid with a first aid kit and tended to her head wound until an ambulance arrived.
Ms Downard was taken to the Angliss Hospital, and was treated for severe concussion, haematomas and two bleeds on her brain.
Doctors had to staple her head back together, and she was kept in hospital for a week.
“Jack’s actions showed great maturity beyond his 10 years of age and allowed Jane to get immediate help and aid in her recovery,” an Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said.
Ms Downard said she was very proud of her son.
“He is one of the most awesome 10-year-olds I know,” she said.
“He didn’t realise that he would get recognition for it, but both of the paramedics that attended nominated him.
“He found out later just how close he came to losing me, and is just happy that I’m still here.”
She said Jack receiving recognition for his efforts gave him closure.
“It’s awful to know that he went through that and I couldn’t be there for him – he was there for me.”
It comes after two people were also congratulated for saving the life of Rowville man Angelko Juresko on Monday 2 May in Kallista.
Mont Albert’s Ross Hamilton and his partner Claire Porter noticed a car slowing down and swerving unusually on the road.
Ambulance Victoria said Mr Juresko was slumped behind the wheel of the car while it was still moving.
Mr Hamilton opened the door and leaned over to pull the handbrake to stop the car, and with the help of motorist Michael Slade, they began cardiopulmonary resuscitation while Ms Porter dialled triple-zero.
When paramedics arrived they defibrillated Mr Juresko and got his heart started again.
Ambulance Victoria CEO Tony Walker said this case in particular proved how vital CPR was to help save lives.
“A medical emergency can occur anywhere and often when we least expect it,” Mr Walker said.
