A brave 10-year-old Isle of Wight boy who called 999 after his mum collapsed and hit her head on the stairs has been praised for his quick thinking, with the youngster saying he is proud because he helped ‘the person I love the most’.
Oscar was home with his mum Carmela when she suddenly became seriously unwell, leaving him facing a frightening situation that no child would ever wish to experience.
Earlier that day, Carmela had been feeling unwell but initially put it down to the hot weather and dehydration.
However, when Oscar returned home a few hours later, he found his mum confused and struggling to speak clearly.
Her condition quickly deteriorated, with Oscar recalling how she lost consciousness twice before falling and hitting her head on the stairs.
Carmela has no memory of what happened next, but her young son knew that he needed to act.
Despite being frightened, Oscar picked up the phone and dialled 999, speaking to emergency call handler Mia Axby from the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service.
Mia stayed on the line, reassuring Oscar and guiding him through the emergency while arranging for paramedics and first responders to attend.
Thanks to his quick thinking and ability to follow instructions, Oscar was able to get his mum the urgent medical attention she needed.
Carmela, who is a single parent, says she had always made sure Oscar knew how to ask for help in an emergency, although she never imagined he would have to put those lessons into practice.
Carmela has said:
“As a single parent, I taught Oscar from a young age how to call for help if needed, but you never really know how a child will react when they’re faced with a real emergency.
“I never wanted him to see the police, ambulance service or hospital as something scary, and I’ve always encouraged him to feel confident speaking to adults and asking for help.
“Looking back, I think that’s why he knew what to do on the day. Even though he must have been frightened, he trusted the emergency services, listened to their instructions, and stayed calm enough to get me the help I needed.”
Oscar’s actions have since been recognised by the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service, which invited him and Carmela to its Newport ambulance station to meet the people who helped them through the ordeal.
Among those waiting to greet the youngster was Mia, the emergency call handler who had answered his desperate call for help.
It was an emotional opportunity for mother and son to meet the woman whose calm voice had guided Oscar through one of the most frightening moments of his young life.
Mia Axby, Emergency Call Handler at the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service, has said:
“Despite being in an extremely difficult and distressing situation, Oscar remained incredibly brave and focused, responding clearly and promptly to my questions.
“His quick thinking helped us get the right help to his mum as quickly as possible. It was a privilege to speak with him and see how calmly he handled such a challenging situation. Oscar should be extremely proud of himself.”
The visit proved particularly special for Carmela, who was touched by the number of ambulance service staff who came to meet her son.
She said being able to personally thank those involved helped turn what had been a terrifying experience into something positive.
But Oscar’s story is not ending there.
Inspired by what happened to his mum, the 10-year-old is now planning to deliver an assembly at his school, encouraging other children to learn how to contact the emergency services should they ever find themselves in a similar situation.
Oscar has said:
“I think it is important for other children to know how to call 999, especially if there are no other adults around.
“It’s just me and Mum at home and I think every parent should teach their child how to call for help. It is stressful, and it would be even more stressful if they haven’t been taught what to do.”
Carmela is now joining her son in urging other parents and carers to have conversations with their children about what to do when someone becomes seriously unwell.
She added:
“While you hope they never have to use those skills, knowing how to get help can make a huge difference. Thank you again to everyone involved for the care, kindness and support they showed both of us.”
For Oscar, however, the reason behind his bravery is much simpler.
When asked whether he felt proud of helping to save his mum, the 10-year-old had a heartfelt response.
“Yes, because I helped the person who I love the most. It was really scary, but I was able to get Mum the help she needed.”
