9-year-old girl calls 911, saves father going into anaphylactic shock

QUINCY, Mass. — Braintree firefighters are calling a 9-year-old girl a hero after she saved her father's life.

Alex Schneider usually works alone, but this time he got lucky his daughter Arianna tagged along to help.

While doing a landscaping job for a friend, Schneider was mowing the lawn when he accidentally ran over a bee's nest.

If it'd been anyone else, the major concern would have probably just been the stings, but for Schneider, who is allergic to bees, it was a life and death situation.

Arianna, who was sitting in the back of the truck when it all happened, managed to stay calm and did her best to communicate with 911 dispatchers and make sure her dad was okay.

"His face was turning purple and I knew that was not a good sign, and then he was like rapidly sweating, dripping of sweat," said Arianna.

When the bees came at Schneider in full force, he said all he could think of was protecting Arianna.

"I remember running from them, trying to protect my daughter and they kept sticking to my shorts, they were in the laces of my boots, I was just kept trying to get away from them because they kept coming and coming and coming," said Schneider.

The father and daughter eventually made it into the house, but just when they thought the danger was over, Schneider went into anaphylactic shock and was struggling to breathe.

Arianna quickly dialed 911, and her called was picked up by Brewster Ambulance. She managed to keep her dad awake and calm until first responders arrived, rushing Schneider to the hospital.

Arianna: "Oh no, his face is turning red."
911: "Ok."
Arianna: "And he fell on the floor."
911: "Ok, ok."
Arianna: "He's shaking."
911: "Is he completely alert or no?" 
Arianna: "He's not completely alert, he's trying to talk."
911: "Make sure you say, 'Dad, help is on the way.'"

Schneider was released from the hospital just a few hours later, thankful and knowing that, if Arianna hadn't been there, things could've taken a turn for the worst.

"I don’t think I’d be standing here today right now if she wasn’t there with me," said Schneider.

Arianna knows too how important it was for her to act quickly and calmly in such a stressful situation.

"I don’t want him to be like that, I really love my dad, and I hope he’s always ok," said Arianna.

Braintree firefighters tweeted about the incident, calling Arianna a "little hero."

The Fire Department and Brewster Ambulance are both planning something special to honor Arianna. She only knows that much, so the rest can be a surprise.

Cox Media Group