Sarah Kennedy – Carer of the Year nominee
Sarah Kennedy – Carer of the Year nominee
Sarah Kennedy from Stoke-on-Trent helped to save the life of a toddler who was pulled from a hotel swimming pool and had stopped breathing.
The mum and grandmother-of-three stepped in to help while on holiday in Tunisia last week, positioning the child’s head to help clear the airway of water then guiding a lifeguard through chest compressions and rescue breaths.
Without her quick thinking the boy may have lost his life. She has since been thanked by his family.
Remarkably Sarah’s lifesaving actions came just a day after she helped another holidaymaker who was suffering from an epileptic seizure, putting her into the recovery position and staying with her until the seizure had passed.
Sarah has been a foster carer with Stoke-on-Trent City Council for four and a half years and says she used the first aid skills she was taught during her fostering training.
Sarah said: “Me and my friend were about to start water aerobics when we saw a little one being pulled out of the water. The lifeguard didn’t know how to do CPR but I did. I’ve never been so scared in all my life. I honestly thought the child had drowned.
“I didn’t know what had happened after they went in the ambulance. I couldn’t sleep that night. I just kept seeing the child’s face. I thought he had gone.
“It was two or three days later when I saw the family again. They didn’t speak English but one family member just kept saying thank you.”
Sarah credits the first aid training she received through Stoke-on-Trent City Council for the skills she was able to call on.
She added: “I’d like to say that anybody would have done it but my friend just froze. I couldn’t have just sat down and not done anything.”
Sarah has now been nominated in the Carer of the Year category of the Your Heroes Awards by Marie Plant, Fostering Recruitment and Engagement Officer at Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
Marie said: “Drawing on the training, calmness and determination she has developed as a foster carer, Sarah immediately stepped in. She positioned the child’s head correctly to help clear the airway of water and she calmly guided others through the CPR process, explaining chest compressions and rescue breaths to the lifeguard.
“Despite fearing that the child may not survive, Sarah refused to give up and continued her efforts. Thanks to her quick thinking, knowledge and perseverance the little boy began breathing again before being rushed to hospital by ambulance. Her actions undoubtedly gave this child a chance at life.
“Sarah has also assisted a woman who was experiencing an epileptic seizure. She calmly ensured the woman’s safety, placed her in the recovery position, reassured those around her and stayed with her until she recovered from the fit.
“These incidents demonstrate Sarah’s exceptional ability to remain calm under immense pressure, put her training into practice and act selflessly to help others.
“While these experiences have understandably had an emotional impact on her they also highlight the incredible value of the skills, compassion and resilience she brings to her role as a foster carer.
“Sarah is a true hero. Her actions have made a life-changing difference to others and she is thoroughly deserving of recognition for her bravery, dedication and commitment to keeping vulnerable people safe. Quite simply, Sarah saved a child’s life and I could not be prouder to nominate her.”
Sarah has fostered more than 10 babies and young children since becoming a foster carer in January 2022 and says she would encourage others to consider it even if they only have a couple of nights per week to offer respite care.