Girl's 'calm' actions during teacher's seizure praised

An 11-year-old girl has been praised for her quick thinking and composure after helping her teacher who was having a seizure in the classroom.

Tom Ray began to feel unwell during a maths lesson before suffering an epileptic seizure and losing consciousness.

While some pupils thought he was joking, Lily-Mae - who has been a Sea Cadet for three years and has had some first aid training - immediately realised something was seriously wrong.

"At first we all thought it was a joke but then Mr Ray started losing focus and he hit his head on the whiteboard, and I knew he doesn't really joke like that," she said.

Lily-Mae said she "literally jumped over a table" to help him before getting her classmates out of the room and alerting school staff who called for medical help.

She said she had drawn on her cadet training during the incident.

"We have been learning how to be calm in difficult situations," she said.

"Before you act, always take a breath and assess the situation because it is also about are you OK doing this, rather than calling someone who has better skills than you?"

Reflecting on her response, she said: "I thought I was only going to have to do bandages, like, say someone gets hurt on the playground.

"I feel very proud of myself for acting. I feel like I've accomplished something very big for my age."

Ray, whose epilepsy is managed with medication, said he had never experienced a seizure like that in the classroom and praised Lily-Mae's actions.

He said her calm and measured response during a stressful situation was something many adults would have struggled to maintain.

"It's very scary for other people to see," he explained.

"It was amazing Lily-Mae was so calm in that situation."

Lily-Mae's mum Jennifer said she was "incredibly proud" of her daughter.

Lily-Mae said she hoped to join the Royal Navy when she is older and also has an ambition to be an astronaut for Nasa.

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