5-year-old Alberta girl’s actions saves father suffering from medical emergency
Posted Apr 5, 2025 11:56 am.
Last Updated Apr 6, 2025 10:01 am.
A 5-year-old Alberta girl’s quick thinking to call emergency crews to her home in the town of Crossfield saved her father’s life, RCMP say.
“I’m glad I could do that for my dad,” Ellie Mae Lefebvre told 660 NewsRadio alongside her mother, Rebecca Taylor.
On March 26, Mounties say Ellie was at her home with her father when he had a seizure, but she was calm and activated an alarm that led 911 to call the home.
Ellie’s father, Martin, has a disorder that led her mother to teach Ellie what to do in an emergency. Taylor says it was important because Ellie, alongside her younger brother, would sometimes be on her own with her father.
“It was a huge shock, and I’m so proud of her,” Taylor said. “She did more than I could ever imagine.”
“You always wonder that’s always in the back of my head, because her dad does have that disorder, so for her to actually pull through and do everything right, and she handled the dog and she made sure her dad was okay.”
After gathering additional information from Ellie, the RCMP and EMS were able to respond and arrived shortly after.
Mounties later presented her with a certificate for her “bravery and quick thinking” and some “RCMP presents,” saying, “Because Ellie knew what to do, her Dad is still with them today.”
Taylor says Ellie was taught to ask Siri to call her and to press the emergency button to call 911. When Taylor arrived at her home, first responders were already inside, and Ellie “melted into” her arms when she arrived.
“[Ellie] did them in perfect order. She didn’t even cry. She just held it all together. She’s one special girl,” Taylor said.
RCMP information officer Cpl. Gina Slaney says police wanted to acknowledge Ellie for her heroic efforts, and other parents should teach their children how to call 911 and what to do in an emergency.
“We really want to stress how important it is to teach your children of what to do in case of an emergency.
“It doesn’t take a whole lot of time to do it, and as we saw in this case, she saved her dad’s life, so her dad is going to be there while she grows up … There are a lot of things that we can do in an emergency. Please teach your children.”
