A hero student nurse from England has quickly told of how she was prompted into action when she seen a distressed Donegal mother run through a Majorca hotel with her unconscious daughter in her arms.
Having only received basic life support training from the University of Sunderland just weeks before she was faced with a real medical emergency, Rachel Rose was enjoying a sun-filled holiday with family in Alcudia, Majorca.
The Hartlepool native told the Chronicle Live how the Donegal schoolgirl Kylie Ann Stewart slipped into unconsciousness on the floor of a hotel complex without an active pulse.
Beginning CPR without hesitation, Rachel did exactly as she was taught – she just kept going.
Kylie Ann, 5, eventually came round before Rachel put her in the recovery position.
“I didn’t think, I just knew I had to do something,” Rachel, 37, told the Chronicle Live.
“I felt for her pulse but there was nothing there; there was no breath either and her chest wasn’t moving.
“I knew I had to start CPR straight away, my mind was racing, all I could think about was how young she was.
“For four minutes I kept going but there was nothing, no signs of life at all. But all the training had told us to keep going, so that’s what I did.
“Then, in the fifth minute she came round, she was just about breathing, then she started moving her eyes a little. I put her straight into the recovery position, I couldn’t believe it.”
Donegal mother of four, Catherine Stewart had been at the resort with her children including Kylie Ann, and husband Jonathan Stewart, 36.
Speaking on the horrific incident, Stewart said Rachel’s swift action “no doubt saved my daughter’s life”.
In the days prior, Rachel had been enjoying a one-week sunshine break with her sister, Natalie Cooper, and children Connor, 17, and Caitlin, 15, and mum, Denise Rose.
Three days into their stay, on a Saturday night, Rachel had finished her evening meal and was heading towards the entertainment area when Catherine Stewart, 37, came running past, cradling daughter Kylie Ann in her arms.
“I was just screaming for help, asking for them to call an ambulance. I was terrified but no one seemed able to help,” Stewart said.
“Then suddenly, Rachel seemed to appear out of nowhere and took over, performing CPR.
“It was all a bit of a blur but there is no doubt that she saved my daughter’s life.
“Kylie Ann is the centre of our family and I cannot bear the thought of what might have happened if we’d lost her.”
The youngster, who was transported to a hospital, was born with spina bifida and had contracted a vomiting and diarrhoea bug which turned out to be e-coli, causing her kidneys to completely shut down and for her to slip into unconsciousness.
Spending 13 days in a Spanish hospital before being transferred to Dublin, where the youngster spent a further 10 days on dialysis, the schoolgirl is now recovering at home.
You can read the full article on the Chronicle Live here: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/majorca-hotel-nurse-sunderland-university-16527795