Girl Who Saved Mum’s Life Receives Triple Zero Hero Awards

An eight-year-old girl was one of 29 children who received Triple Zero Hero awards after she saved her mum’s life by performing CPR while on phone with an ambulance operator.

Charlette Portughese, from Melbourne, knew she had to call Triple Zero when her mother, Jessica started having a stroke.

In an audio of the Triple Zero call, Charlette told the operator that her mother has stopped breathing and has her eyes open.

‘[Mum] went back into bed and then she started breathing like this “ah-ah-ah”,’ she tells the Triple Zero operator.

As the operator realises how hard it could have been for Charlette, he offers her some words of encouragement: “I need you to stay strong for me, Charlette.”

Charlette is then walked through resuscitation, calmly listening as the operator explains that she will need to perform 600 compressions on her mum. Immediately, Charlette begins pushing downwards on her unconscious mother’s breastbone, counting out loud as she keeps up with the timing set out by the operator. Thankfully, after four-and-a-half minutes, paramedics arrived at the house and took over.

Speaking to radio program 3AW Mornings on Thursday, Charlette’s mother said she is so proud of the quick thinking and calm resolve of her daughter.

“My daughter, she saved my life and if it wasn’t for her I don’t know where I’d be now, I’m so proud of her,” she said.

Yet, Charlette did not think highly of the praises but explained why she made the call.

“Well it’s because at school we had a lesson when I was in Grade 2, and they told us all about Triple Zero and they said it’s only for very special emergencies. I knew that she wasn’t looking good, so I knew I had to call 000,’ she said.

The Triple Zero operator, identified as Nick Lee, told 9 News, how well Charlette handled the situation saying, it gave him “chills” listening to how well she performed under pressure.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk