A COOL-HEADED schoolgirl who came to the aid of her mum who she found collapsed on the bathroom floor has been praised for her bravery.

Kayleigh Pilling was alone in the house with mum Michelle, 49, on the morning (June 15) after dad Chris had left for work.

Michelle, a merchandiser for a clothing manufacturer, who has been working from home through the lockdown, suddenly collapsed after she had been brushing her teeth.

However, Kayleigh, 11, did not panic and after calling her dad, phoned for an ambulance and followed the advice from the other end of the phone.

The Haydock High pupil, who has been studying at home during the pandemic, also went to get the help of next door neighbour John to assist her as her mum needed to be put on to her back.

Her calmness and bravery have been praised and could have made all the difference in saving Michelle's life.

"I went to work at 6.30am and left my wife and daughter in bed and got a phone call at 8.30am," said dad Chris, 35.

"Kayleigh said her mum had collapsed in the toilet so I told her to phone 999.

"She had collapsed in the bathroom behind the door. Kayleigh managed to squeeze into the bathroom and push my wife back and the ambulance talked her through what to do, asked if she breathing and is she responsive, my daughter went through all that with the ambulance.

"My wife had a bleed on the brain and she was having a fit as well. My daughter did really well and stayed on the phone until the ambulance came. It was for about 20 minutes, maybe a bit less."

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Michelle had suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage, a life-threatening type of stroke caused by bleeding into the space surrounding the brain.

After a CT scan, Michelle was referred from Whiston Hospital to Walton and underwent a three-hour surgical procedure on the day after her collapse, which involved inserting a tube through her groin up into her head through blood vessels.

Chris and Kayleigh are not able to visit her due to the pandemic but are receiving daily updates. Michelle is expected to stay in the hospital for a minimum of 10 days and faces a three to 12-month recovery.

"The paramedics were really helpful and my neighbour John Bradbury comforted, I thank him," added Chris.

"Kayleigh's quick thinking definitely helped her mum, without a doubt.

"I am so proud, she kept a cool head and her mum's very thankful, she's proud of what Kayleigh's done."