QUICK thinking from Horsham teenager Danae Martin aided her injured mother - and has earned her a statewide accolade.
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Danae, now 17, was honoured among 26 young Victorians for showing bravery beyond their years as part of the annual Junior Triple Zero Hero awards.
The ceremony was held at the Parliament House in Melbourne on Thursday.
Emergency Services minister Lisa Neville and Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority chief executive Marty Smyth awarded Danae with a medal, a certificate and a teddy bear.
ESTA triple zero operators nominate young heroes every year. Danae was nominated by operator Jonathan James, who received her triple zero call.
Danae said she was happy she could meet Mr James in person at the ceremony. She said she was privileged to be nominated for the award.
"It was really good. I didn't think it was going to be that big," Danae said.
Danae's mother, Susie Martin fell through the second floor of their Horsham home in March last year.
Mrs Martin said: "We were renovating our old bathroom. I lost balance and ended up going through the ceiling through the plaster and ended up at the bottom of the downstairs bathroom.
"I didn't have any severe injury but I must have lost consciousness. When I hit the ground all I remember is Danae being there."
Danae phoned triple zero after recognising her mother was bleeding. Mrs Martin sustained a head and leg injury and was rushed to hospital.
"I was really scared and flustered. I called triple zero and listened to what they said," Danae said.
She said it was important that schools teach students about calling 000 emergency services when required.
"Treat everyday as your last because you don't know what can happen," she said.
The Martins listened to the actual call from last year at the ceremony.
Mrs Martin said: "We had a bit of a giggle when he (Jonathan) was saying 'what's happening' and Danae said 'You told me not to look,'
"We could laugh about it now but it was quite scary at the time."
Mrs Martin said she was proud of Danae being so brave.
"I am really happy that they acknowledge Danae's effort, it was a big thing. This is creating awareness for everyone else," she said.
"Although it had a good outcome, it could have been worse."
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