Essex Police praise boy for calling 999 when mum collapsed

Seven-year-old Ronnie-Lee Gray from Tilbury has been praised by Essex Police call handlers for his quick and mature actions when his mum fell unconscious at the home he shares with his two younger sisters.

He quickly dialled 999 and went through to Ruth Potts in the force control room, who quickly sent an ambulance to their address.

His mum Becky has been recovering at home at the time following a surgery just days earlier and said she was suffering from low blood pressure.

She said: “It’s happened before, and he phoned for help then.

“He’s known how to help for quite a while, as I’ve had this problem for some time, particularly when I was pregnant, so we’ve even given him his own phone.

“I had previously suffered with my blood pressure and sometimes passing out.”

Becky was taken on to hospital for further checks, where staff were full of praise for Ronnie’s actions. She said: “Even when I was in hospital at A&E, I had all the doctors coming up to me telling me ‘your son is a very clever boy’.

“I’m so proud of him.”

Left to right: (back row) Thurrock Engagement Sergeant, Amelia Moore, Thurrock Children and Young Person's officer, Rachael Johns, Essex Police call taker, Ruth Potts, Essex Police Control Room Supervisor, Adam Taylor. Front row: Ronnie-Lee Gray and his mum Becky (Image: Essex Police)

The force control room arranged for him to visit his local police station for a special thank you.

He met officers with Thurrock Community Policing Team and even got the chance to check out the team’s quad bikes – which are used to tackle anti-social motorcycling in the district.

Becky said: “I am extremely proud of my son, and I’m very pleased he’s getting this recognition for what he did.

“There’s not a lot of people of that age who would know to do that and to act in the way he did.

“For him to be able to ring up 999 and give his full details and stay calm, it’s amazing.

“Although it turned out to thankfully not be so serious, it was his first instinct to call for help when he saw his mum fall to the floor.”

Sgt Amelia Moore shows Ronnie inside of police car (Image: Essex Police)

Thurrock engagement sergeant, Amelia Moore, said: “Ronnie showed maturity far beyond his years in helping his mum that day and clearly avoided a potentially worse outcome.

“It’s only right we thank him in some small way by letting him come and meet his local policing team.

“We were delighted to host Ronnie, he was a real pleasure and a credit to his family.”

Adam Taylor, force control room supervisor, said: “Praise must also go to call handler Ruth Potts, whose manner and professionalism with Ronnie ensured we had help in place for his mum as quickly as possible.

“Ruth is an outstanding call taker and a credit to the FCR.

“This call illustrates the variety of incidents we at the Essex Police control room deal with on a day-to-day basis, facing huge demand and persevering with care and patience.

“We deal with a range of complex and challenging situations.

“Although this ended up being a medical emergency and something for the ambulance service to deal with, the professionalism of our call handler ensured we could facilitate a quick response from our colleagues.

“There is a lot of good work which goes on behind the front lines of policing, 24 hours a day, to ensure we help those in an emergency.”