Narre Warren Constable Travis Cusack gives Junior Triple Zero Hero Noah Opris a friendly hug.By Callan Date
THREE youngsters were dubbed heroes yesterday (Wednesday) for making vital triple zero emergency calls in the last 12 months.
Endeavour Hills boy Anil, 6, Narre Warren South girl Karlie, 8, and Narre Warren boy Noah, 3, were honoured at the special function held at the Melbourne Convention Centre.
Carlton Football Club star Brendan Fevola presented the Junior Triple Zero Hero awards to the trio, who were among 20 young Victorians recognised by the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA).
Noah made headlines in March when he saved the life of his mother Rebecca Opris after she suffered an epileptic fit at their Murdoch Avenue house.
He used a mobile phone to make the call and told an emergency services operator that his mum had fallen, was asleep on the floor and bleeding from the mouth.
Ms Opris has since made a full recovery and is in awe of her son’s efforts.
“I am very happy and very proud of him,” she said at the time.
Anil received his award after he rang for an ambulance when his mother fell while climbing stairs. Anil was in the house with a younger sibling and answered the call-taker’s questions.
Karlie rang for an ambulance when her mum had diabetic complications. ESTA officials said she answered the call-taker’s questions clearly and confidently.
ESTA chief executive Neil Foster said the awards were aimed at recognising and rewarding the children’s initiative.
“These young people showed the right way to deal with an emergency by picking up the phone and dialling triple zero,” he said.
“This shows that it’s worth teaching your younger children the address they live at as well as the nearest cross street so we can pinpoint exactly where they are.
“In many cases they’ve been brave and resourceful enough to stay on the line with the operator who has talked them through giving basic assistance before help arrived,” Mr Foster said.
