AN EMOTIONAL reunion was held between a girl and the emergency services crew who saved her life.

Four-year-old Rosie Day, of Woodham Mortimer, had a cardiac arrest in December 2015. Her mother Sara performed CPR until the paramedics arrived and local man Stuart Little was the first responder on scene. He was soon joined by the Essex Ambulance service and an Air Ambulance team.

Rosie was diagnosed with heart muscle disease, and faced an agonising eight-month wait for a transplant.

Thanks to the efforts of her parents Barry and Sara, donors were found and she was given a new heart in July last year.

After several months of extensive neuro-rehabilitation at Tadworth Hospital, Rosie moved back home with her parents in Post Office Road, Woodham Mortimer in January.

Before Rosie’s cardiac arrest, Stuart Little and his team ran a number of emergency first aid and defibrillator training sessions following her diagnosis.

In April this year, Mr Little and his team of scouting colleagues attempted the Three Peaks Challenge, which involves climbing the three highest peaks in England, Wales and Scotland, often within 24 hours.

They managed to raise £700 for Rosie’s cause, and Stuart and his team presented a cheque to Rosie and the Essex Air Ambulance Service on Saturday at The Hurdlemakers Arms Pub in Woodham Mortimer.

Additionally, the 999 crew who responded to Rosie’s cardiac arrest were also present.

Rosie’s mum Sara Day said: “It was very emotional meeting everyone again and hearing each person’s recollection of the evening of Rosie's cardiac arrest. It was really lovely to be able to thank them in person for the amazing job they did that night and do on a daily basis.

“We are so grateful to the Three Peaks team for raising funds for Rosie's much needed rehabilitation and for the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance.

“It was lovely to meet at The Hurdlemakers Arms, Woodham Mortimer because the owners Nettie and Gary have been amazingly supportive.

“They held a charity auction night and quiz nights for Rosie and Nettie ran to our house on the night of Rosie's cardiac arrest with the pub defibrillator, which is now in a box at the pub for the whole village to access.”

Picture: The Day family with Stuart Little, Gordon Wren and Simon Drane - the Three Peaks Challenge team (along with Rebecca Hull and Andy Keen who couldn't attend), the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance doctor and the Ambulance Service staff who attended on the night of Rosie's cardiac arrest and Nettie and Gary Piclher, owners of The Hurdlemakers Arms. Taken by Carissa Tucker