Award for hero 10-year-old
Published: January 3, 2007
A 10-year-old boy who helped his friend while he was having an epileptic fit has received an award for his quick thinking.
Daniel Whiting was in the middle of a lesson at White Woman Lane Middle School when his classmate had a fit.
While some of the other children were getting upset, Daniel remained calm and level-headed and went straight to the office to ask them to call an ambulance.
He knew exactly what to do because he had learnt about epilepsy from his neighbour Paul Carter, who suffers from the condition, and who nominated him for the Wherry Housing Association’s annual Community Spirit Award.
Daniel, from Evans Way, Old Catton, said: “My friend went up to sharpen his pencil and fell back, hit his head on a pipe and had a fit.
“It was in class time and it was really shocking. It was the first time I had seen him have a fit.
“One of my other friends started crying because it was his best friend. The teacher was there but I just went straight to the office to get them to call an ambulance. It was near break time so we all had to leave the classroom. Then the ambulance came to help him.
“I am just glad that I knew what to do because I had learnt about epilepsy from Paul. I was glad I could help.”
Mr Carter, 37, who has had epilepsy since he was 21, said: “Daniel mentioned he had a classmate with epilepsy at school and I told him what he should do if he had a fit.
“I told him not to panic, that he should be put in the recovery position and to get help.”
“For a young child to see an epileptic fit it can be quite frightening. Fits can be quite shocking to see and if it had not been for the fact that I have experienced fits I do not think I would know what to do.
“Daniel acted in a grown-up way when the situation happened and he should be very proud of himself.”
Daniel’s mum Tara Whiting, 31, a playschool teacher, said she was very proud of how her son had helped his classmate in June 2006.
She added that as well as receiving the Hero Award from Wherry Housing Association, he had also been given a Caring Pupil Award from his school.
Mrs Whiting, 31, was also nominated for the Support Award in the Community Spirit Awards. She was nominated by Mr Carter for being a good neighbour, doing his shopping and offering him help whenever he needed it.
Daniel received his Hero Award at a ceremony at Norwich City Football Club.
The Wherry Housing Association’s Community Spirit Awards were open to anyone living in Wherry Housing Association Accommodation across Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
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