'Amazing' schoolgirl praised for bravery after helping dad and sister in horror crash

Paramedics from the Scottish Ambulance Service heaped praise on Hayley McKay, 11, for her heroic efforts after her family was involved in a crash earlier this year

A schoolgirl who rushed to aid her dad and sister following a horror crash has been praised for her "calmness and strength" and given a prestigious award.

Hayley McKay, 11, was travelling with her father, John, and sister, Emily, aged eight, when their car crashed outside Bucksburn Police Station, in Bucksburn, Aberdeen, on April 20. After an emergency call was placed to the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS), frontline paramedics rushed to the scene, reaching the crash site in just five minutes.

They arrived to find Hayley calming her sister, and the 11-year-old helped assist the paramedic team before a second crew arrived to assist. The youngster's mum, Rebecca, told of the "incredibly scary and worrying" moment she received the call, but said she was quickly informed that everyone was fine, and that Hayley was "praised highly" for her help.

She said: “Getting the call from John to say he had had an accident was incredibly scary and worrying – I didn’t know exactly what had happened or how bad the situation was. Once I arrived, the Scottish Ambulance Service staff were extremely calm and reassured me that John and the girls were all okay and praised Hayley highly for her help.”

Hayley has now been presented with a Certificate of Commendation from the SAS for her brave efforts assisting paramedics and helping calm her sister during the ordeal. She was welcomed to the service's base of operations, where she and her family received a tour after she was presented the award by staff Aberdeen station members Poppy Currie, Paramedic and technician Simon Hughes.

Hayley's mum added that she was "extremely proud" of both of her girls, and praised the "calmness and strength" Hayley showed during the incident. She said: “We are always extremely proud of our girls but the calmness and strength that Hayley showed that day blew us all away.

"At such a young age, she truly showed just how amazing she is to us and others around her. The verbal praise we received from paramedics was astounding in itself but for her to receive the certificate and be offered into the station was beyond kind and thoughtful.

Sarah Louise Houghton, the SAS leader who guided the family around the station during their tour, said young Hayley could become a "new recruit in years to come". She said: “The family was lovely and so grateful for the chance to meet the crew and pass on their thanks; they even dropped off a wee bag of goodies for the station which was incredibly kind of them.

"They were hugely complimentary of the crew, which is so nice to hear. Equally the crew were delighted to meet with Hayley again and wasted no time in praising her for all of her efforts. We might have a new recruit in years to come - you never know.” Rebecca added: “We all had an amazing afternoon visiting and seeing them all again.

"Everyone was so welcoming and offered such a positive experience for the girls after such a scary time. We couldn’t be more grateful for the kindness shown to us both at the time of the accident and at the station visit.”