Boy, 5, Saves Collapsed Mum's Life

Boy, 5, Saves Collapsed Mum's Life

A five-year-old boy saved his mum's life by dialing 999 and working with the call handler to make sure she survived.

Harry Oldham sprang into action when he was woken by the sound of his mother, Jo, blacking out.

The shocked little boy found her unconscious on her bedroom floor.

But Harry stayed cool and used her phone to call the emergency services as his severely disabled seven-year-old brother still lay in bed.

Harry was then guided by call handler Caroline Clarke as he checked his mum's symptoms as she started to fit and pant.

The incredible call, which was made at 9.26pm, lasted just over 12 minutes.

Harry went to check his mum's breathing as Caroline comforted and encouraged him, ­saying "You're doing amazingly, you're taking really good care of your mum."

Jo, who had a kidney infection, was in hospital for two days after the sudden scare but has made a full recovery.

Jo, 41, from Buckden, near Huntingdon, Cambs, said: "It came completely out of the blue. I had a bad kidney infection but nothing like this had happened. The boys were in bed but Harry woke up and used my phone to call the ambulance.

"The call handler took him through all the checks – apparently, I was panting like a dog – and he was on the phone until the ­ambulance arrived. I'm really proud of Harry. I had ­mentioned some things to him before but he did really well."

During the call Harry, who is just about to start his second year at Buckden School, described his mum's condition.

"She's really feeling sick now, she's shaking and shaking really hard," he told Caroline. "She's shaking because she doesn't want to be sick, that's why."

Harry also looks out for his older brother Ollie, who is one of just 300 people in the world with Rothmund-Thomson syndrome, a skin condition.

"Harry is great with his brother," Jo added. "Even though there is no pressure on him to help out he wants to help. I was a little bit upset that he had to see me lying on the floor but the ambulance services were amazing with him and he was very proud of himself."

East of England Ambulance ­Service Trust was so impressed with Harry's actions on June 8 that they invited him to Huntingdon ambulance station to meet the staff and look around an ambulance.

Clive Goodson, assistant general manager at the station, said: "It's the first incident of this type I've heard of. What's amazing about Harry is that because his mum doesn't have a medical condition he had not been coached in what to do as he would if mum was diabetic, for instance. Because his mum is usually fit and healthy, it makes it even more impressive."

Thrilled Harry was given a certificate, toy, flask and booklets about what to do in an emergency on his special trip.

Below is an extract from Harry's dramatic 999 call:

Call handler Caroline Clarke: "Are you close to her? Right, just check again for me. Put your ear next to her mouth and nose and see if you can feel or hear her breathing."

Harry: "Ok."

Mrs Clarke: "Ok my love."

Harry: "I can hear some breathing."

Mrs Clarke: "You can hear her breathing?"

Harry: "Yes."

Mrs Clarke: "Fantastic. Well done my love. How old are you?"

Harry: "Five."

Mrs Clarke: "Five. You're doing amazingly. You're taking really good care of your mum.All right, what is she doing now?

Harry: "She's really feeling sick now."

Mrs Clarke: "What is she doing?"

Harry: "She's shaking, she's shaking really hard.

"She's shaking because she doesn't want to be sick, that's why."

Bravo Harry!

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