By: Spokesman Newsroom
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Friday 24th September 2021) — Five-year-old Davicia Smithen was recognised on National Heroes Day for playing an integral role in community and nation building — specifically for her quick thinking in placing an emergency phone call to help her unresponsive mother during a medical situation in August 2021. At a ceremony organised by the East Basseterre Labour Branch on Thursday 16th September, young Smithen received a medal for her ‘Super Hero’ honour.
Parliamentary Representative for Constituency One Dr. Geoffrey Hanley said: “This is the 5-year-old who dialed 911 after she realized her mother fainted at home, and I thought she deserved to be called our Super Kid Hero of East Basseterre.” In a widely shared social media video with 11,000 views produced by vlogger Shaq Bassue-Benjamin and posted on 18th August, Smithen described her actions: “I was waking up mommy seven times and she wasn’t waking up, so I called 911, I called the police, and the ambulance for her.” When asked who taught her to dial 911, she replied: “Mommy.” Her mother, a former police officer, explained she had taught both Davicia and her 4-year-old son about 911 “when they were like 3-years-old” precisely for such emergencies. The East Basseterre event also included the customary wreath laying in memory of National Hero Paul Southwell.