68-year-old woman fell two stories and was knocked out — unlikely rescuer's 'tapping' saved her life
Animals and wildlife very well understand the kindness exercised towards them by human beings. Some even return the favor, like one species did for an elderly woman named Sandie Gillard, per ABC News. When Gillard had an unfortunate fall from the second story of a building to the pavement, one of her very own came to her rescue in an iconic way. The little beauty arrived just in time and heroically did her bit, which proved to be life-saving for the 68-year-old. Gillard has been around animals and wildlife from the time she was a baby. "When I was a baby in my cot, my mum used to put the baby sugar gliders, any of the birds, and baby crocodiles in the cot with me to keep them warm," she recalled.
Naturally, she developed a liking for the various creatures and spent many years looking after them. Years after her family moved, the woman ensured that wherever she was, she would look after whatever animals and wildlife came her way. Gillard enjoyed her company with birds and took a liking to their unique kindness. "It's their intelligence, unconditional love they give and their gratitude for looking after them," she noted. "I don't know who I would have become if I hadn't had contact with wildlife throughout my life," she said. One of the birds she strikingly recalls is Jellybean the magpie.
It was around 2017 that she came across the bird. The bird was injured and couldn’t fly, so she stayed with Gillard and her family. As she helped the bird get back to health, the magpie bonded with her. A particular memory was that of the bird learning to pick up pencils and try to color with her grandson. Eventually, Jellybean was well enough to get back to the skies, but she never left Gillard’s side. According to the Awesome Wildlife Company, magpies are a social and interactive species. They adapt well to new environments and are often seen in human habitats. Jellybean knew she had to adapt because she had Gillard as an added family member.
She would often pay a visit to the woman with other birds whom Gillard had helped earlier, and they all equally cherished their consistent reunions. "They would sit on the verandah or whatever and knock on the door until I would come out and say hello," Gillard recalled. One day, the 68-year-old had a brutal fall from the second floor to the pavement. She couldn’t recall the fall but only remembered having gone unconscious. With a cracked skull and a broken arm, she was lying unconscious on the pavement. It was Jellybean who came to her rescue before anyone even realized. The magpie swooped in just in time and knew she had to do something to help.
While many might think that a small magpie couldn’t do much, the bird’s simple gesture made a life-saving difference for Gillard. "I woke up to this little sound of purring and something tapping me on the forehead," the woman recalled. The magpie was consistently trying to get the woman back into consciousness, and it worked. When the woman came to, she quickly called out to her husband before losing consciousness again. This time, her husband arrived on the scene and was able to get first responders to take her to the hospital.
As she recalled the scenario, she could only think about one fact, which even the doctors confirmed. "If Jellybean hadn't woken me up, I probably wouldn't be here," Gillard remarked. The woman eventually recovered and the magpie continued to visit. Years later, she moved to be closer to her family. "That was one of the hardest things I think I've ever done," she said. Nevertheless, she is delighted and proud that she’d raised the magpie and many others to be wonderful creatures. "It's gotta be the best feeling, I think, ever in the world," she added.