Girl, 3, calls ambulance for herself

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WELLINGTON, New Zealand, July 26 (UPI) -- A 3-year-old New Zealand girl called an emergency number by herself when she had trouble breathing, ambulance call center personnel said.

The (Wellington) Dominion Post said the toddler, Lina Aiono-Te Tau, had to make the 111 call herself in the early morning hours because her mother is deaf.

Personnel at the Wellington Free Ambulance call centre were stunned to get the call from the coughing toddler Saturday morning, the newspaper said.

Jordan Lane, who took the call, said when he asked to speak to the girl's mother he was told she was deaf and couldn't speak. The girl told him she was having breathing difficulties. Eventually, Lane was able to reach the mother by text and confirm where she lived, the newspaper said.

Lina is believed to be Wellington Free Ambulance's youngest emergency caller, The Dominion Post said. She was taken to Wellington Hospital and treated for croup and a viral infection.

Lane told the newspaper he was impressed: "I've got a 3-year-old and I can't imagine him doing it. I asked him where he lived last night and he had no idea."