A Tennessee teacher collapsed in class and a 4-year-old’s quick thinking saved her life: 'She knew...'

When a daycare teacher in Clarksville, Tennessee, collapsed in front of her class, it was a four-year-old student who saved her life. Kyndal Bradley was the only child who recognized that something was seriously wrong, and the only one who ran to get help. Thanks to her quick action, the teacher was rushed to the hospital after she reportedly stopped breathing twice, was given urgent medical attention, and is now recovering. The incident happened while Kyndal and a few classmates were in a room with their teacher, later identified as Miss Ashley. Without warning, Miss Ashley collapsed and began to seize.

There were no other adults present when Bradley, just 4 years old, immediately left the room and alerted another teacher. She told them her teacher was "sick" and needed help. Her decision set everything in motion. According to WSMV 4 News's report on June 8, the daycare staff called for emergency medical assistance. Paramedics arrived quickly and worked to resuscitate Miss Ashley, who was later stabilized and transported to the hospital. She has since returned home and is recovering. Bradley's mother, Taylor Moore, said she had no idea what had happened until staff arrived at her door to share the news.

"I was met at the door by a couple of teachers, and they were like, 'She's a hero for the day. And I'm kind of looking like—what happened?" Moore told WSMV. She explained that she’d taught her daughter basic safety information, like their phone number and address, but never how to respond to a medical emergency. "I never thought to introduce what to do if an emergency arises. So it was a shock to me to see that she knew exactly what to do in a situation like that," Moore said. Sitting next to her mother during the interview, Bradley recalled how she reacted. "I told the teacher, I said the other teacher, she was sick," she said, smiling shyly. Moore said a paramedic later told her that Kyndal’s quick thinking likely saved Miss Ashley’s life.

"If she hadn’t gone and gotten the assistance, this story could have gone a totally different way. So I’m very proud of her," Moore said. She described her daughter as naturally caring and observant, adding, "She just has this very nurturing spirit about her. So it’s shocking, but it’s not." Now, Moore is encouraging other parents to have conversations with their young children about emergencies, even if they think they’re too young to understand. "No matter the age, their awareness shouldn’t be underestimated. They’re little, but they may be our savior. So they definitely need to know how to react," she said.

When asked if she had anything she wanted to say to her teacher, Bradley leaned forward and said, "Love you." Both she and her mom said they’re looking forward to seeing Miss Ashley again when she returns to the classroom. Research supports the idea that children of Bradley's age can respond meaningfully in emergencies, especially when they feel emotionally connected to an adult in distress. A peer-reviewed study published in Behavioral Sciences found that preschool-aged children who experience strong empathy are significantly more likely to engage in helping behavior, even without formal training. The researchers noted that a child’s ability to act was shaped not just by instruction, but by emotional sensitivity and modeled behavior at home.