Quick-thinking off-duty cop saves life of two-year-old

14 February 2024

A quick-thinking off-duty response officer has recalled the moment she carried out life-saving CPR on a two-year-old girl, while out on a casual dog walk along the beach.

PC Zoe Williams was enjoying her first rest day ahead of a week off work when she decided ‘just by chance’ to take her dog for a walk along Solva Beach.

However, Zoe’s walk with her Welsh Sheepdog Tia, took an unexpected turn when the 29-year-old found herself resuscitating a ‘limp and lifeless’ toddler.

“I’d seen the girl and her mum during my walk. They had a dog of their own, and the girl was pointing at Tia, telling her mum that there was another doggy on the beach,” recalled Zoe.

“I’d been to the end of the shore and taken a few photos, before turning back and heading to the harbour. And that is when I saw the little girl’s mum screaming and calling for help.”

The mum’s cries immediately triggered Zoe to run towards her.

Little girl Elliot and Zoe.

“The mum was on the floor, holding her daughter, who was pale and limp. The mum was shouting ‘she’s dead’ and to be honest, I remember thinking she could be,” said Zoe, who instantly started to carry out CPR on the tot.

“I started chest compressions and giving small breaths because she was so little. Ten minutes in, I knew I needed a defibrillator, so I told the mum to go and get one. She didn’t want to leave her little girl but I told her if she didn’t go and get one, her daughter might die.”

By this time, a fellow dog walker had called 999 and asked for an ambulance.

Zoe then used the defibrillator - which had been located by the mum - to shock the little girl. 

“I’ve carried out CPR before but I’ve never experienced anything like that,” said Zoe, adding: “I don’t think it was until after the incident, and I was joined by my colleagues, that I realised what happened. That was when the shock of it all kicked in.”

Almost half an hour into carrying our CPR, Zoe had been joined by two members of the public - who were recently first aid trained - and had seen what was happening and took over five minutes before the Air Ambulance crew arrived.

The girl, whose name is Elliot, was taken to hospital and an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) was implanted into her chest - to correct any dangerous abnormal heart rhythms if needed. 

Hero PC Zoe Williams.

“Elliot hasn’t been diagnosed with anything, but I was told that she was given a five per cent survival rate, had she not had CPR,” continued Zoe, who went on holiday the night of the incident.

“I’d asked my colleagues to keep me informed about how Elliot was getting on and they said she was up and running around. I didn’t believe it - my last memory of her was this little blue young girl, she didn’t look alive.

“It wasn’t until I visited the hospital when I got back from my holiday and saw Elliot - who had made a full recovery, no brain damage and no broken bones from the CPR.”

Zoe recalled how she and Elliot’s mum, Fran ‘burst into tears’ the moment they saw one another.

“We’re hoping to all go on a dog walk together - me, Fran, Mike [Elliot’s dad] and Elliot,” said Zoe.

“Honestly though, I feel like I was just in the right place, at the right time. I’m looking forward to catching up with Elliot and her family soon.”

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