A six-year-old boy from Port Erin has become the youngest person ever to receive a Chief Constable’s Commendation after calling 999 when his mum and younger brother became trapped in the bathroom at their home.
Taylor Kneen was accompanied by his parents Bethan and Stuart and younger brothers Jesse, aged 4, and Louis, 8 months, at a special event held at Police Headquarters in Douglas, hosted by Chief Constable Gary Roberts.
The incident unfolded on the morning of Monday 12 February when Bethan was in the bathroom with Jesse and the lock to the door broke, trapping them inside.
As Stuart had already left for work, Taylor, who was outside the room with Louis, then only 14 weeks, first tried to get help from a neighbour but could not get through the front gate. Bethan then asked him to use one of the phones in the house, but they all had child-locks.
The only option remaining was to call 999, which overrides a child lock.
The controller who took the call at the Emergency Services Joint Control Room initially feared Taylor’s mum was seriously ill and police in Castletown were immediately sent to the address.
Taylor stayed on the phone for more than 11 minutes until help arrived. During that time, the Rushen School pupil remained calm and was able pass updates from the controller to his mum. He also consoled his baby brother, who was crying in his cot, and unlocked and opened the front door when the police officer arrived.
After being trapped for around 40 minutes, Bethan and Jesse were freed by Constable Gemma Berry, who replaced the lock mechanism, which was hanging out of the bathroom door.
Chief Constable Gary Roberts said:
‘Taylor is a remarkable young man, who managed to stay calm and do exactly the right thing by dialling 999 and asking for help. He did a great job while on the phone to the control room, giving details of their address and making sure Mum knew help was on its way.
‘Taylor’s family are clearly very proud of the way he reacted – and I am delighted to make him the youngest ever recipient of a Chief Constable’s Commendation.’
Following the presentation the Kneen family were taken for a ride in a police car.
