BOY 9 SAVES MUM IN A38 DRAMA

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BOY 9 SAVES MUM IN A38 DRAMA

TRISTAN NICHOLS HERALD REPORTER

07:30 - 30 January 2008

A nine-year-old Plymouth boy has been hailed as a 'superhero' for

steering his mum's car to safety after she blacked out on the A38.

, who suffers from Asperger's syndrome, a form of

autism, bravely took over the controls of his mother's car during the

rush-hour incident near Plympton on Monday.

Grabbing the steering wheel at 70mph, twice weaved across

three lanes of traffic before bringing the car to a standstill using

the handbrake.

Emergency services today praised 's level head and quick

thinking, and said he, his mum and others might have died had it not

been for his actions.

The youngster is to be presented with a bravery certificate.

's proud mother n , 34, said: " He's my little

superhero.

" The last thing I remember is driving over the flyover at Marsh Mills

to take to school in Plympton.

" I must have passed out, because the next thing I saw was a paramedic

fitting a brace around my neck.

" I just couldn't believe it when I was told what had happened and

what had done. "

Eyewitnesses say the car, which was travelling at around 70mph in the

inside lane, tracked to the left before sharply veering to the right,

crossing all three lanes and hitting the central barrier.

The Toyota Avensis then crossed all three lanes again, travelling

three or four metres up the bank, before hitting a tree and stopping.

, a pupil at Longcause Community Special School, admitted he

was scared.

He said: " Mummy passed out so I held the steering wheel, pulled the

handbrake and put the hazard lights on.

" The car stopped and the windscreen smashed.

" It was scary because I've never driven a car before. "

Amazingly, both n and escaped uninjured.

's stepdad, Fordy, said he was looking forward to

n being released from Derriford Hospital so the family could be

together at home in Peverell.

" It's been quite an emotional time, " he said.

" We'd like to thank the emergency services for everything they've

done. "

n is still in Derriford Hospital and currently having scans to

determine the cause of the blackout she suffered.

Paramedics Pete Holden and Ray MacFadden were despatched to the

incident from Derriford Ambulance station.

Pete said yesterday: " We were incredibly impressed with little

's brave actions to save his mother's life.

" As soon as he saw his mother start to struggle with her breathing

and lose consciousness he grabbed the car's handbrake and pulled it

up while taking hold of the steering wheel to guide the car to the

side of the verge and out of harm's way of other traffic.

" It must have been a very frightening experience, but his level head

and quick thinking prevented a much more serious accident that could

have been potentially life-threatening for both mum and son, as well

as other road users.

" The control centre informed us that a caller had reported n had

an underactive thyroid which resulted in problems with breathing, and

therefore she lost consciousness while driving.

" We're really pleased that mum and son weren't seriously injured in

the accident, and there is a happy ending to this story; so often

this isn't the case for busy ambulance crews who attend road traffic

accidents. "

Lynne Paramor, head of communications at the South Western Ambulance

Service, said would be sent a special 'bravery certificate'

and goodie bag as a gesture of goodwill.

" It will recognise his quick thinking and life-saving actions, " she

added.

" We want to say a big thank-you to for being so brave and

keeping calm. "

MPc Sam Pullen, of the Plymouth Traffic Unit, said she was in no

doubt that saved his and his mother's life.

" What could have been an extremely tragic accident has been resolved

by this nine-year-old boy, " MPc Pullen said.

" When his mother passed out screamed at her to wake up and

apply the brakes before he grabbed the steering wheel, guided the

vehicle and applied the handbrake.

" He saved a potential disaster from taking place and he certainly

deserves the praise.

" Not many boys of his age would think to grab the controls and

rectify the situation.

" He's a hero. He saved his and his mother's lives. "

Architect Robbie Brown was two cars behind n and on his

way to work in Totnes when the incident happened ahead of him.

" It was quite a shocking sight to see and I'm amazed no one was

seriously hurt, given that the car swerved across the road twice, "

said Robbie, who lives in Plyouth's North Hill.

" It could have easily been much worse, " he said.

" I didn't know what to think, but I pulled over and helped to wave

traffic around the incident. "

The incident on Monday morning close one lane of the Exeter-bound A38

for several hours while accident investigators checked over the

scene.