Tamia Feltham, 7, saved by first aider after her heart stopped during carol service

By
Mary Mcconnell

Last updated at 5:11 PM on 31st December 2011

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A hero council-worker saved the life of a seven-year-old girl when her heart stopped suddenly during a carol service.

Emma Hobbs performed CPR on Tamia Feltham after she collapsed without warning at a concert in Portsmouth, Hampshire.

The 28-year-old managed to restart the little girl’s heart and she was rushed to hospital by ambulance.

I need a hero: First aider Emma Hobbs saved Tamia Feltham's life when she performed CPR on her

I need a hero: First aider Emma Hobbs saved Tamia Feltham’s life when she performed CPR on her

Ms Hobbs, a community warden for Portsmouth City Council, said: ‘I sprung into action on gut instinct. After she collapsed I knew something bad had happened.

‘All that kept running through my mind was that I needed to get her breathing and living again.’

Tamia, from Portsmouth, had been attending a carol service with fellow pupils from Paulsgrove Primary School at sheltered housing for the elderly, when she fell ill. After coming round she was taken to nearby Queen Alexandra Hospital.

Grateful: Tamia and her mum Kirsty, right, both thanked Emma for giving the seven-year-old life-saving first aid during the carol service in Portsmouth

Grateful: Tamia and her mum Kirsty, right, both thanked Emma for giving the seven-year-old life-saving first aid during the carol service in Portsmouth

Doctors revealed the schoolgirl – who has no history of heart problems – had suffered a ‘cardiac faint’, often caused by an irregular heartbeat.

It’s not known what brought on the condition, but medics praised Ms Hobbs for her quick actions.

Ms Hobbs, of Portsmouth, who was attending the carol service with the school pupils, said: ‘The horror of what happened didn’t really hit me until afterwards.

‘When I saw her lying in the hospital bed it hit home that she was just a little girl and things could have got much worse.

‘Being a first aider is part of my job as a community warden. I did what was necessary and it was such a relief to see her alive and breathing again.’

Tamia’s mother, 26-year-old Kirsty Feltham, burst into tears when she heard what had happened to her daughter. 

She said: ‘When I got the call to say what had happened I couldn’t believe it. Tamia had been completely fine that morning. I was so upset and I couldn’t stop crying. I just hope something like that doesn’t happen to her again.

‘I can’t thank Emma enough for everything she did. God knows what might have happened if she hadn’t been there.’

Tamia was released from hospital just days after the incident, which happened just before Christmas, and has made a good recovery. She said: ‘I want to say a big thank you to Emma for rescuing me. It was really scary. I remember standing there singing and then the next thing I knew I fell to the ground.
‘I remember being in the ambulance and then waking up in the hospital bed.’

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