Sofia Harman phoned police after her mother, who has a rare medical condition that affects her heart, collapsed

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

A three-year-old girl who helped save her mother’s life has been praised for her quick thinking.

Sofia Harman raised the alarm when her mother, Patricia Hannington – who has a rare heart condition, collapsed at the family home in Clacton, Essex. She had already told her daughter what to do in the event of an emergency.

Sofia immediately phoned Essex police after discovering her mother had collapsed.

Call handler Julie Buckley kept Sofia talking about her pet dog in order to establish the home address and track down the stricken mother before taking her to hospital for treatment.

Sofia and her family were invited to police headquarters in Chelmsford where the youngster was presented with a bravery certificate.

DCC Matt Horne said: “We are all very proud of Sofia and our emergency operator Julie.

“Sofia, having just turned three years old knew exactly what to do when her mum collapsed – this is because her mum took the time to explain and teach Sofia this important life skill. We have released the recording because Sofia’s family want other families to know that we must start teaching our children how to call for help as early as possible.

“To be able to meet this very special little girl, and to see her meet with Julie, was lovely.”

Buckley said: “For a child of her age, it was amazing that she knew exactly what to do. It was great meeting her and seeing just what it means to her family.”