Good News7-year-old British Columbia boy Evan Rapp saves grandfather’s life
Evan Rapp, 7, is being hailed a hero in Chilliwack, B.C., for saving his grandfather's life.
Evan's grandfather, George Epp, 67, was driving Evan to a soccer game when he suddenly felt faint. Epp pulled over, shaking and sweating before losing consciousness.
"He was laying on his side and his false teeth fell out, and it looked like grandpa fell asleep, or that he was joking," said Evan's father, Brian Rapp.
Fast-acting Evan remained calm and grabbed his grandfather's cellphone — he quickly figured out that the password-protected phone could be unlocked for emergency calls — and called 911.
He told the 911 operator where they by spelling out street signs and identifying nearby landmarks. Those details helped a police officer arrive on the scene before an ambulance got there.
Epp blacked out in severe pain because of a broken back, Rapp said of his father-in-law's condition. Epp remains in hospital where he's recovering under observation.
"It was pretty emotional to listen to," Rapp told CTV's Canada AM Thursday morning of the released 911 call. "You're not sure whether you should be crying or laughing or maybe all of the above. It was pretty amazing to listen to."
"Evan wants something a little bit bigger under the Christmas tree from his grandpa," joked Rapp.
Rapp told CTV that the second-grade student has become an overnight celebrity.
"It's been a little overwhelming for us, never mind for a seven-year-old," Rapp said. "Yesterday, when we got home from work, we had several media outlets here waiting and it was a little crazy. All this for a simple call, when you think about it, but also an amazing call."
"We're all very proud of Evan, that he was able to jump into action and get grandpa the help he needed" Melissa, the boy's mother, told the Valley Voice, adding that "Evan picked up on 9-1-1 just through casual conversation."
"He knew that it was an emergency, and knew how to use an iPhone," she said. "We've never actually sat down and said, like, 'This is what you do,' but we'll be driving and quiz them on their phone numbers and where we are, and to read road signs, things like that."
The RCMP says Evan's story is a good example of why parents need to teach kids how to call 911 "from all these iPhones and smartphones, BlackBerrys."
