Heroes come in all ages as nine-year-old St Emilie’s Catholic primary school student Bella Gilliland proved last month when she saved her 18-month-old brother Jobe from drowning in their family pool.
Last week Bella received a bravery award from the City of Armadale and Canning Vale police for her actions on July 24 when she jumped into the freezing water and rescued Jobe.
Before the incident Bella, her five-year-old brother Duke and a friend were playing in the backyard with the pool gate open while Jobe was indoors with mum Danielle.
Ms Gilliland first realised she had lost sight of Jobe when she heard Bella calling for help from the backyard of their Piara Waters home.
Jobe had walked into the backyard and fallen into the freezing water and without hesitation Bella had jumped in to save him.
Bella said she initially didn’t notice her brother falling into the pool.
“I just saw some feet, I looked around and said oh my gosh, it’s Jobe,” she said.
“So I went in my uniform and I got him out.”
“It was a little bit scary, I was freaking out.”
Ms Gilliland rushed out when she heard Bella yelling and found Jobe conscious but struggling to breathe after Bella pulled him from the water.
“Bella got there quick enough, he was submerged in the water,” she said.
“He had swallowed enough to get some water in his chest but he was conscious at that point.”
After treatment from paramedics and a short stay in hospital Jobe made a full recovery.
Ms Gilliland said she was forever grateful to Bella for her quick thinking and she pleaded with families to keep updated with first aid and always keep an eye on their pool fences.
“I will be forever grateful for her quick thinking and those precious seconds she just thought to run there is just amazing,” she said.
“In our eyes she’s a hero.
“Our kids are pretty good with the pool gate, we’re always on top of it but it’s just this one time.
“It takes something quick like that for something like this to happen.”
“My husband and I are definitely keen to update our first aid now because you think it’s never going to happen.”
Drowning was the leading cause of preventable death in children under five. On average almost 40 children were admitted to WA hospitals every year following a drowning incident.
Royal life saving society WA keep watch coordinator Rachel Murray said Jobe’s story was a reminder that toddler drowning could occur year-round, not only during the summer months.
“Although we usually aren’t thinking about swimming during winter, the pool can still be an enticing prospect for young children,” she said.
“We encourage all parents to remain vigilant, ensure that pool fences remain well-maintained during winter and that trees and furniture are kept away from the pool area.
“In this case we were delighted to hear that Bella’s quick-thinking and selfless actions saved her brother’s life.”
