Off-duty nurse named as 'Rose of Northamptonshire' for saving 13-year-old girl's life after she collapsed having cardiac arrest

A mother-of-one suffering with multiple sclerosis (MS) has been named a Rose of Northamptonshire after she helped save a 13-year-old girl who was suffering a cardiac arrest in the town during the early months of the pandemic.

The award, which was open to the public to send in their nominations, recognises and expresses thanks to groups or individuals who have worked tirelessly to keep their communities safe since the pandemic began back in March 2020.

Karen Facer, a nurse at Northampton General Hospital, was off-duty at her home in Kenmuir Avenue, Kingsley, when she got the call from her friend Alan Morton to come and save the little girl's life.

The girl was running with her mother when she collapsed at the side of the road near to the Morrison's supermarket, on the Kettering Road, in May time last year.

Alan had just left Karen's house after helping her with some shopping because she is extremely clinically vulnerable and is shielding from the virus due to having MS for 17 years.

When Alan was driving he was flagged down by the girl's distressed mother. Alan stopped and then called Karen to come and help.

Karen said: "I got straight in the car, drove up and saw the girl on the floor. She had collapsed and the family were shouting 'she's fitting, she's fitting'.

"So I put her in the recovery position, I couldn't find a pulse and then she stopped breathing. I had a look and then started CPR straight away."

Karen was giving the girl CPR until the ambulance had arrived. In the meantime, traffic was building up in the area, police had arrived along with an air ambulance.

"As far as we were aware she had just fitted - she had gone blue. The ambulance came and I shouted 'cardiac arrest' and they got the defibrillator. She was then treated at the side of the road and then put into the road ambulance."

The girl was taken to Birmingham Hospital where she had successful heart surgery.

Karen said: "A lot of people don't survive this heart defect. If I had not got her heart started she would have died, it plays on my mind, but she is alive and well."

"Afterwards it was like 'wow, what have I done, I've just saved a girl's life'. I couldn't believe it. It took me a long time to process it."

The girl's family bought Karen a rose called Teenage Spirit to plant in her garden to say thank you and commemorate that day.

Karen said she was reminded how limited life can be. She said: "It made me realise how life can be so short. We don't realise children can be at such a risk. It has brought us closer together as a family, we were already close but we are closer now.

"It's made me so proud. My husband and son have said I'm their hero."

On receiving the Rose of Northamptonshire, Karen said: "It made my heart melt. I was just doing what anyone would do. I am very proud of it. I am going to photo frame it on the wall."

The girl's family have said they are 'immensely grateful' to Karen and everyone who helped that day.