A Tolland boy is being credited with helping to save his bus driver’s life.
“I just ran up and grabbed the walkie talkie! Just needed to get her to the hospital quick,” Will Restall told NBC Connecticut.
“I was surprised he remembered everything to do and was able to really take control of the situation and help out,” Tara Restall said.
Will Restall’s bus driver was having a medical emergency and Will Restall from Tolland helped the woman get the medical attention she needed.
The 6th grade student credits a bus safety course he learned last school year for knowing exactly what to do in this type of situation. The bus ride began like any other school day for the 11-year-old, a student at Tolland Middle School.
“I was on my phone and I just heard a loud bang! I saw it at the last moment,” Will said.
Will’s bus had just pulled up to school and parked. Right before he and 15 other classmates were about to get off, the bus driver suffered some sort of medical emergency, according to Will and school officials.
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“She wasn’t moving, she just fell,” Will added. That’s when Will jumped out of his seat and headed her way.
“She fell over and I grabbed the walkie talkie and said she needed medical attention and an ambulance and they came! There is this button on the side and I just talked into it and called for help,” Will added.
Luckily the school resource officer and other adults were right outside the bus to help too.
“I got a call from the principal,” Will's mom, Tara Restall told NBC Connecticut.
Back at home, Tara says the principal called parents to let them know what happened and she had a special message for mom.
“She called him a hero, and you know he really is, he really helped. We’re so proud of him. He had the piece of mind and knew what to do,” Tara added.
Will's dad, Tim tells NBC Connecticut this was a proud parent moment.
“As a parent you always want to raise your children well. Send them in the right direction and Will did a great job,” Tim said.
“And we hope she’s recovering and alright,” Tara added.
A bus company spokeswoman couldn’t say much about the bus driver for privacy reasons, but explained the bus driver is home recovering.
The superintendent of schools tells us all safety procedures were followed and the students safely exited the bus.
