It was the emergency callout every paramedic dreads – a child in danger. As they raced to a house where a five-year-old had gone into cardiac arrest, they feared for the worst ... until they arrived to discover the youngster was actually a cat.
“一位小孩情况危急!”接到求救电话后,每个医务人员都很担心。他们到达求救地点时5岁的“孩子”已经心脏骤停,医务人员作了最坏的打算——但直到他们进屋,才发现病危的“孩子”是只猫。

A fast-response car and an ambulance were scrambled at 6.45am after a desperate couple dialled 999 and pleaded with the emergency operator to revive their ‘five-year-old’.
一对夫妇拨打急救电话,急切地恳求医务人员救醒他们5岁的“孩子”,接到电话后一辆快速反应车和救护车急急忙忙赶到。

An ambulance spokesman said the call could have meant the difference between life and death for a genuine patient.
救护中心一位发言人说道紧急电话可能表示病人正处在生死一线的境地。

One paramedic said: ‘The 999 situation that raises the adrenaline the most is probably being called to a seriously ill child. It’s human nature. 'I think the paramedics were probably relieved it wasn't a child to start with and then they were absolutely gobsmacked. Fast-response cars and ambulances will be driven at the maximum speed for safety to the scene and paramedics will be mentally prepared to offer their immediate professional assistance. You’d certainly be pumped up by it. The paramedics were probably relieved it wasn’t a child to start with and then they were absolutely gobsmacked.'
一位医护人员说道:“接到电话得知一个孩子病危我们就马上行动,这是人的本能。快速反应车和救护车会以最快速度到达现场,而医护人员则是精神高度集中以确保提供专业的救护帮助。你当然会因此高度紧张。我想医护人员们最初听到不是孩子病危时松了一口气,但随后得知实情后则是目瞪口呆了。”

‘It was a surreal situation. I’ve gone to some silly calls, but nothing like this. I can’t understand why they didn’t try to call a vet. Some people think 999 covers everything.
“这是很离奇的情况,虽然我以前接到过一些很愚蠢的电话,但还从来没有像这样的。我不明白为什么他们不叫兽医。有些人认为999无所不能。”

The bizarre 999 call was received by East of England Ambulance Service on August 10 from a foreign couple. The paramedic said they had been in the country a short time only and may have been confused, adding: ‘We get a lot of callers with language barriers. We have a translation line we can use but you haven’t got time to do that in a potentially critical situation.'
这个紧急电话是8月10日一对外国夫妇打给英国东部急救中心的。这位医护人员说道这对夫妇来英国时间不长,他们可能是没搞清楚,同时他补充道:“我们的救护中心有很多语种的接线员。有一条专线是供翻译用的,但在潜在紧急状况下根本没时间去弄这个。”

A spokesman for the service said: ‘We would remind people that 999 is a lifeline.’
该中心一位发言人随后表示:“我们必须让公众明白,999电话是一条生命专线。”