Eight-Year-Old with Disability Commended for Rescuing Father

An 8-year-old boy with a disability has received commendation for rescuing his father, who had fallen into a diabetic coma. According to Durham Police, Tyler provided “vital information” to the 999 call handler and managed to keep his four-year-old sister composed after his father, Jamie Miller, became critically unwell at their residence. Tyler’s parents clarified that he has Global Developmental Delay, which means he possesses “the mind of a four-year-old,” in addition to experiencing a speech delay. The neighbourhood team of Durham Police opted to honor Tyler with a “VIP experience” because he is “police-obsessed.” Upon the arrival of emergency services, Mr. Miller, who suffers from type 1 diabetes, was discovered unconscious on the floor and “hardly breathing.” The 37-year-old spent a week hospitalized but has since recovered and is reportedly “doing well at home.” PC Jordan McGregor, the first officer to arrive, stated: “Tyler is very enthusiastic about the police, but was apprehensive that he may be in trouble for contacting the police when he did, so he deserves extra credit for that too.” As a form of recognition, an officer collected Tyler from school last week for a ride in a police vehicle, and he received gifts contributed by a local Tesco branch. Samantha, Tyler’s mother, clarified that his father had previously experienced illness due to his medical condition, prompting them to instruct Tyler on how to summon assistance. She commented: “It’s not something I expected he’d be able to do so we’re super proud.” She further expressed that she was “even more impressed” that he successfully raised the alarm despite his disability and speech delay. Neighbourhood Policing Sergeant Daniel Beardmore stated that Tyler “no doubt” saved his father’s life. He further remarked: “We all need more Tylers in the world and we hope he and his whole family have a fantastic Christmas.” For updates, follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor, and Instagram. Story submissions can be sent to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external links is available.