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Josh Duggar and John David Duggar were in the office of Champion Motorcars, Josh’s used-car dealership in Springdale, Arkansas on Thursday when they witnessed a three-car fender bender that appeared to be fairly minor. The brothers, who appear on the TLC reality show 19 Kids and Counting, have seen a good number of accidents at the busy intersection in the past and weren’t unduly alarmed at first glance.

It turns out that 6-year-old Maddye Plascensia was in the front seat sitting next to her grandmother Glannetta Plascensia when the collision caused her airbag to deploy. The little girl had been eating chicken nuggets at the time of the crash and some food became lodged in her airway, though it is not clear if this was readily apparent to the grandmother.

Mrs. Plascensia rushed the child inside the office of Josh’s car dealership and asked him to summon help because Maddye was unconscious and not breathing. The eldest Duggar son called 911 and was coached by the emergency dispatcher to place the child on the floor. John Duggar, a volunteer fireman who has had no first responder training, was talked through the process of performing chest compressions and clearing the child’s airway.

When first responders arrived on the scene, Josh held an IV bag while John shot a video using his cellphone. The little girl was stabilized and airlifted to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, the very hospital where the Duggar’s youngest child, Josie Brooklyn Duggar, has been since her premature birth on December 10, 2010 – see details and video here.

Maddye remains in critical condition. Michelle Duggar and her husband have met with the little girl’s parents at the hospital. Jim Bob said, “They recognized us and were thanking us for Josh and John helping to save little Maddye’s life”.

He went on to say, “I am so proud of my two oldest sons who responded so quickly in helping to save this little girl. You pour your life into your children, and it was so encouraging that they had such a quick response and were ready to help. They made a difference.”

See John Duggar’s video footage of the accident below. Listen to the 911 call here.



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