Selfless girl, 12, to shave head for air ambulance

Maisy with her grandmother Julie while she was recovering in hospital

A 12-year-old girl is going to have her head shaved to raise money for a charity which helped save her grandmother's life.

Maisy is hoping to raise £1,000 for Wiltshire Air Ambulance after her grandmother Julie had a cardiac arrest at home in Swindon on 30 May.

She has saved up her pocket money to hire the hall at Meadowcroft Community Centre, where the head shave will take place later.

"Without the air ambulance, she probably wouldn't have been here today," said Maisy.

Julie had heart surgery in 2016 and was fitted with a pacemaker

"I'm very grateful. They've saved not just my nan's life, but many other people," Maisy continued.

The 12-year-old and her mother Rebecca were in Madrid to watch a Taylor Swift concert when Julie went into cardiac arrest. They flew home the same evening.

"I was an absolute mess when I heard the news and couldn't stop crying in the airport," said Rebecca.

Julie, who has a type of arrhythmia called ventricular fibrillation, was taken by ambulance to the intensive care unit at Great Western Hospital (GWH).

"Whilst we were in the hospital, Maisy came up with the idea to sell her Taylor Swift bracelets and make more to sell for those going to the UK shows," said Rebecca.

'So proud'

Maisy then came up with the idea of shaving her head. So far, she has raised £940.

"I was so proud of her I cried," said Julie. "I told all the nurses and the doctors and I've been telling everybody since."

Maisy's seven-year-old nephew, who ran to get help from a neighbour when Julie needed CPR, will be there to help her shave her head.

"It feels really exciting, and I feel good that I can raise money for such a great cause," said Maisy.

A Wiltshire Air Ambulance spokesperson said: “It’s amazing to see a young person seek inspiration from such a traumatic experience that has affected her and her family.

“We can’t thank Maisy enough for her incredible efforts.”