Brave seven-year-old commended for act of supreme courage

The brave seven-year-old received high commendation from Ambulance Victoria on Monday for his courageous actions at the scene of a family car crash on April 1.

Aedan helped his younger sisters Paige and Alyssa out of the vehicle before alerting a passerby who helped paramedics remove his mother and driver, Jessica Peillon, from the wreckage on the Clarendon-Lal Lal Road.

Details of the crash are unknown, but paramedics remain astounded there were no fatalities after the station wagon rolled into a tree.

While the three children escaped without serious injury, Ms Peillon was airlifted to Melbourne with a broken neck.

Nearly three months down the track, Aedan has been rewarded for his courage.

The presentation was made at the Lal Lal Primary School in front of his class mates and family, with acting Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance team director Mark Brown and paramedic Erin McPhee – who was on the scene at the time of the crash – also present.

Mr Brown was lost for words in his assessment of the youngster’s actions.

“To have the mindset after an accident like that to remove both his sisters from the vehicle is … incredible,” he said.

"On arrival we were really concerned. It was a massive intrusion into the tree.

“What has really impressed us is that his thought process is well and truly beyond his years. A lot of adults would be flustered, but he remained calm and focused.”

Mr Brown said Ms Peillon received quality care and arrived at a Melbourne hospital in less than 25 minutes –the same time it would take for transport from an accident in Melbourne’s outer suburbs.

Ms Peillon remembers nothing from the crash, which happened just metres from the Lal Lal Primary School.

“I went into town to do a bit of shopping and see my dad and sister in law (on the day),” she said.

“We did a little bit of that, had lunch and were on our way home – and that’s where the accident happened.

“I broke my neck – my (cervical) C2 and C3 vertebrae, my right scapula and my hand.

“Aedan got out of his seat, got Paige out of her capsule and did his best to get Alyssa out of her seat and her seat belt.

“He was having a lot of trouble with that (but) he did his best to try and open the door and while pushing on the door and banging on the window to get out, he caught the attention of the passer by.”

Ms Peillon lauded her son’s bravery.

I think it’s well deserved and (a) great recognition.

“I always knew he was a smart lad, this just proves it.”