An inspirational seven-year-old has received a CBBC Operation Ouch First Aid Award for helping to save her dad’s life.
Avaana Samuel’s father, Sam, has a glioma brain tumour and suffered a seizure whilst at home with Avaana and her younger sister, Arya, in September 2020.
The quick-thinking youngster took her then-three-year-old sister into another room and phoned her mum, Sindhu, who got the ambulance service to call her back.
Avaana then answered questions about whether her dad was conscious and breathing and followed instructions to move him into a safe position whilst waiting for an ambulance to arrive.
After being nominated for the award, in July 2021 a CBBC film crew visited the family’s home in Worcester Park, South-West London, to film with Avaana, who was one of three finalists, and her family.
In September Operation Ouch doctors Chris and Xand van Tullekan returned to surprise Avaana by revealing that she had won the award, which celebrates young people who have helped someone by performing accurate first aid.
They praised her for ‘staying calm and brave in a very frightening situation’ and took the arts and crafts enthusiast on an art-themed family day out.
They then presented her with a certificate, a golden stethoscope and a surprise video of Janette Manrara, a judge from Avaana’s favourite TV show, Strictly Come Dancing, who invited Avaana to visit her on the set of It Takes Two and told her to bring her dancing shoes so the pair could ‘have a little boogie together’.
Sam said: “Avaana pretty much saved my life. She’s definitely deserving of this award and her mum and I could not be prouder.”
To watch the episode click here.
Related reading:
If you found this story interesting or helpful, sign up to our weekly e-news and keep up to date with all the latest from Brain Tumour Research.