Scout praised for helping save dad after collapse

Charlie acted quickly after his dad collapsed when they were playing football

A Jersey Scout has been praised for his quick-thinking and for keeping calm when his dad collapsed.

Peter Routier and his son Charlie were playing football at St Martin's Village Green when he suffered a medical episode.

Charlie, 11, remembered the Young Responders training he had with St John Ambulance Service at the 6th Jersey Scout Group before the incident.

He checked his father still had a pulse and was breathing before getting help to call an ambulance.

Interim Island Lead Volunteer Glen Militis presented Charlie with an Island Commissioner's Award

Charlie was presented with an Island Commissioner's Award for his courage and bravery.

Scout leaders said his quick thinking meant Mr Routier was taken to hospital and is now doing well.

Charlie said his dad "was about to score a goal" when he "completely blacked out and fell backwards".

"The training taught me how to check that he was breathing, what to do if he wasn't breathing and what to do when the ambulance came," he said.

"I'm most proud of my new badge because it's for saving my dad".

Charlie's mum, Jo Routier, said she was very proud of her son's actions

Charlie's mum, Jo Routier, who volunteers for 6th Jersey Scout Group, said she was proud of her son.

Mrs Routier said: "I looked at my phone and there were messages saying 'Mum, mum, urgent, urgent' and then I got a phone call and it was actually the teacher that Charlie had found to help him."

She added: "He was calm and didn't panic. If he had just stood there and done nothing, it could have been a worse situation".

Mrs Routier said the incident was caused by a problem with her husband's heart rhythm but he had since been checked over and treated.

Emma Ward from St John Ambulance Service hopes Charlie can inspire others to join the Young Responders programme

Emma Ward from St John Ambulance helps provide the Young Responders training to groups like Jersey Scouts.

She said Charlie "did what he was taught to do" and "stayed calm and did it really, really well".

She said: "At the moment we are delivering the Young Responders programme into a lot of schools but if we can get more young people doing it then that's all the better."

The Young Responders programme is provided free for children aged between 11 to 25-years-old.

Scout group leader Evelyn Martin-Foley said Charlie had done the Scouts proud

Evelyn Martin-Foley, leader of the 6th Jersey Scout Group, praised Charlie for his quick thinking.

She said: "We were extremely proud of Charlie and the skills he learned that day with St John Ambulance Service made sure he could do what he had to do for his dad on the day".

She added: "It shows how the Scouts is an amazing organisation for young people to learn skills for life".