Bravery award for girl who saved grandma's life

Safa Hussain was given a special reception by the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Bev Mullaney

A schoolgirl who spotted that her grandmother was having a stroke and raised the alarm has been given a bravery award.

Nine-year-old Safa Hussain, from Shipley, knew what symptoms to look out for after she learned about them at Low Ash Primary School.

She was given a Certificate of Appreciation by the Lord Mayor of Bradford at a special reception in City Hall yesterday.

Helen Matthews, the teaching assistant who ran the extra-curricular first aid lesson, was also honoured.

Safa Hussain (centre, holding her certificate) with the Lord Mayor who also invited Safa's family and two teachers to the reception in City Hall

The Lord Mayor, councillor Bev Mullaney, said:  "It is great to recognise the bravery of Safa and the excellent teaching given to her allowing her to take action to help save her grandma.

"A huge well done to Safa for remaining calm and helping to save her grandma's life."

Safa was off school with a sickness bug and staying with her grandmother, Mary Shaikh, 79, while her mother was at work.

Safa said: "I remember going to my grandma's house. When she sat down in the bed I tried to give her some breakfast, but she couldn't pick it up.

"I tried everything that Ms Matthews said and I knew that she was having a stroke.

"So I called my mum and said 'you need to call an ambulance, grandma's having a stroke', so she did."

The ambulance took Mrs Shaikh to Bradford Royal Infirmary where she was given life-saving treatment.

Safa said: "It was a major, major stroke. I feel really happy and excited that my grandma is still here."

Safa's grandma, Mary Shaikh, was able to enjoy the official reception despite still being in Bradford Royal Infirmary where her treatment continues

Her mother Ayesha Shaikh, 49, said she dropped her daughter off with her mother but 40 minutes later received the phone call.

She said: "She rang me saying that Grandma was very poorly and had had a stroke.

"I said 'what do you mean, you're nine years old, how do know that she's had a stroke?'

"She'd given her some sort of breakfast and she couldn't hold it. But also her face had dropped and she couldn't speak.

"She's our little hero. She saved her because she wouldn't have made it otherwise.

"It it hadn't been for Miss Matthews teaching her the signs, then my mum wouldn't be here."

Teaching assistant Helen Matthews and Safa Hussain both received Certificates of Appreciation

Ms Matthews said one of her roles was to teach first aid from Year 1 up to Year 6.

She said: "It's not part of the National Curriculum, but at Low Ash we think it's a really good thing to teach the children.

"One of the things I did teach them was about the 'golden hour' and the importance of acting within an hour.

"The ambulance and the paramedics said that's what saved her because Safa did it so quickly, so promptly. So we're very proud of her."

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