Patrick Ryan 8 Te Mata Primary, was presented with an ASB St John's Super Saver Bravery Award for his courage and quick thinking when he helped his grandmother after she suffered a traumatic injury from a nasty fall. Video Warren Buckland
A Havelock North grandmother's fall from her bike at a local BMX park could have been a lot worse, were it not for the quick thinking and actions of her seven-year-old grandson.
Stephanie Mueller and her grandson Patrick Ryan were making the most of a teacher only day in Augustlast year when they decided to head to the Guthrie Park Bike Track.
"I remember we were biking across the BMX track [...] and were going over a hill and I stopped and turned around to see if she was okay," the now eight-year-old Patrick recalled.
"I saw her fall off her bike and on to the ground."
The foam inside her helmet was cracked, there was blood coming from a gash on her forehead and the 74-year-old was out cold.
Patrick knew what to do though, having recently completed the ASB St John in Schools programme.
Stephanie Mueller, 74, says her quick thinking grandson, Patrick Ryan, now eight, probably saved her life after she took a nasty fall at the bike park. Photo / Warren Buckland
He grabbed his Ouma's phone and called 111, with the operator instructing him to apply pressure to the wound.
"The weird thing is I had to take my T-shirt off to cover her gash and help stop the bleeding," he said.
"Then she woke up and I asked her, 'What's my name?' She got it right and I felt quite relieved."
Mueller was similarly relieved when she realised help was on the way.
"The last I remember was biking over the speed humps and I woke up to see him on my phone and noticed him without his T-shirt on and thought, 'That's odd'.
"Then I noticed the T-shirt was on my forehead.
"It took a while to realise what had happened, but I knew I had been knocked out because I was on the ground.
"He told me St John is coming and I just relaxed at that point."
Patrick Ryan called emergency services, whipped off his T-shirt and held it to his grandmother's head wound when she came off her bike at Guthrie Park. Photo / Warren Buckland
She was transported to Hawke's Bay Hospital where she was kept overnight for observation, have suffered concussion and a brain bleed.
She credited Patrick for also making sure she had a helmet on that day.
"It saved me in a sense because I needed that helmet when I fell. The helmet broke which is how hard the impact was."
She said she was "eternally grateful" to Patrick because there had been nobody around.
"He's my little hero. He did a good job of saving me.
"I must say I am very proud of him. You hear of these amazing things that children can do and when it happens to you, it brings it home."
Patrick Ryan was presented with an ASB Super Saver Bravery Award and a gold cape during an assembly at Te Mata School on Friday morning for helping his Ouma. Photo / Warren Buckland
Patrick was presented with an ASB Super Saver Bravery Award during an assembly at Te Mata School on Friday morning.
The award – which was a surprise for the Year 3 pupil – came with a golden superhero cape and certificate.
St John head of community education Jacci Tatnell said Patrick's bravery and swift actions proved young children can save lives.
"We've heard of many examples of children like Patrick, who've helped to save the life of a friend or loved one by recognising when they have been in danger, calling for help, and applying first aid.
"Through our ASB St John in Schools programme, we are equipping as many tamariki as we can with the skills and confidence to take action in an emergency."
She said their communications centres could receive as many as 50 emergency calls a month from children in traumatic circumstances where a loved one had fallen or was unconscious, and there were no other adults in the house.
"The more children learn about first aid, the more lives can be saved, and our communities become stronger and more resilient."
To date, more than 800,000 students have completed the ASB St John in Schools programme since 2015.
