An eight-year-old Sussex girl has been recognised by
South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) for her brave actions
in raising the alarm for her great-grandfather when he had
collapsed at his home in Bexhill, East Sussex.

On walking into the house, Maia Bryant, a Glenleigh Park Academy
pupil, who has autism, immediately alerted her family when she
found her great-grandfather, Leo Turtle, (87) slumped on the floor
and barely conscious after he had suffered a stroke on 21 May
2016.

SECAmb ambulance technician Kate Sayers was first on scene
followed by an ambulance crew with paramedic Phil Ibrahim and
emergency care support worker Coral Martin who took Leo to
Eastbourne District General Hospital for emergency treatment.

Maia’s grandfather Tony said: “Those who know Maia will know it
can be difficult for her to follow instructions due to her autism
but she did everything that was asked of her by myself and the
paramedics. She was just such a great help to all of us.”

Maia and her family paid a surprise visit to
Hastings Make Ready Centre on Thursday 4 August when she was shown
around the ambulance station while paramedic Phil Ibrahim explained
all the emergency equipment inside an ambulance and instructed her
how to immobilise a broken arm. He then presented Maia with a Chief
Executive Commendation certificate for her quick thinking in
sensing something was wrong and for her helpful actions once
paramedics were on scene.

Phil said: “I’m really pleased that we have been able to
recognise Maia’s help on that day. It can’t have been easy for her
to handle such a distressing situation but she did extremely well
and her great grandfather and all her family can be very proud of
her.” 

Grandfather Tony added: “We all had a lovely time at the station
and I would like to thank Phil, Coral and Kate who came so quickly
to help my dad. He is still in hospital but recovering well and he
hopes to be able to come home soon. I just want to say thank you to
all of your staff on the road and to those working hard in the
background as you do such a wonderful and difficult job day in day
out.”