Police award for 999 call toddler

Feb 21 2013

A toddler who dialled 999 after her mother fell unconscious at home was hailed a credit to her family as she picked up a police award for bravery.

Rowan Rychel was a week away from turning two when her mother Francesca fainted suddenly and fell to the floor.

Mrs Rychel hit her head on a wooden cabinet and twisted her leg badly in the incident at home in Innerleithen in the Borders in September 2011.

Rowan, who was alone with her mother at the time, rang the emergency number and told the operator "mummy won't wake up".

Realising a child was making the call, a local police officer rushed to the scene, found the 28-year-old student nurse was still unconscious and summoned an ambulance.

Rowan, now three, collected a meritorious award from Lothian and Borders Police.

Presenting the award at a ceremony in Edinburgh, a force spokeswoman said: "The officer involved was taken aback by Rowan's amazing actions and there's no knowing what might have happened had she not made that emergency call.

"Rowan's a credit to her family and we're pleased to honour her."

The young girl's father, Robert, later spoke of his pride. Father-of-two Mr Rychel, a 36-year-old network administrator, added: "I'm really proud, really chuffed for her. She's always been really bright since she was very young. We told her at the time she'd been very clever and she was a good girl."

The police force also recognised the courageous acts of 34 others at the ceremony at their headquarters, including a group involved in the rescue of teenager Katie-Lou MacLean from the harbour at Eyemouth last June.