
By Rebecca Fraser
WHEN Clyde mother of three Jacqui Russell-Croucher took a dangerous fall last Thursday, her 12-year-old son was quick to come to the rescue.
Quickly dialing 000, year six student Morgan gave clear directions to the ambulance officers before telephoning his grandmother to come and look after his two siblings.
Staying calm, Morgan then grabbed a blanket and pillow as his mother slipped in and out of consciousness.
Mrs Russell-Croucher was taken to Casey Hospital where she underwent x-rays before being released shortly after 2.30am.
She said her husband Darren worked in the mining industry and was often far away from home and, with no nearby neighbours, she was very appreciative of her son’s quick actions.
Her 13-year-old son Jackson was also very helpful, settling his four-year old sister Georgia into bed following the incident.
Mrs Russell-Croucher said she slipped on a step leading from her kitchen into the lounge room when she hit her hip and smacked her head on the hard floor.
“I could not move so Morgan went and got me a pillow, saying ‘Mum, Mum, Mum, you have got to stay awake’, because I kept wanting to fall asleep,” she said.
Mrs Russell-Croucher said her children had even helped her get dressed for hospital, which had made for a few laughs afterwards.
“They all had a good laugh when I got into the ambulance because my pyjamas were on back to front,” she said.
She said she also wished to thank the father of one of Georgia’s school friends, who happened to be at the hospital at the time, for driving her home.
“I really want to thank him for that as he lived in Upper Beaconsfield and Clyde was really out of the way.
Mrs Russell-Croucher said she had taught her children about the 000 service from a very young age.
“He (Morgan) knew to call 000 and handled everything.
“It was just amazing, he did such a good job.”
The family is now in Queensland for a well-deserved rest with Mrs Russell-Croucher’s relatives.