Boy, 4, saves mum's life after collapse (From Oxford Mail)

Boy, 4, saves mum's life after collapse

6:30am Friday 18th December 2009

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MUM Steph Frankum hugs her four-year-old ‘little life-saver’ after he called rescuers on her mobile phone when she collapsed.

Jason Buckel was hailed a hero by paramedics yesterday for coming to his mum’s aid after she fell down the stairs at their home during an epileptic fit.

He picked up her mobile phone – which he had never used before – and scrolled through 11 contacts before recognising the name of his mother’s friend Elaine Clibbon, who lived nearby.

He said: “Mummy’s collapsed on the stairs. Can you help her please.”

Ms Frankum’s partner Dave Newton, 54, and his son Lee, 24, raced to the house in Westfield, Harwell, and found her at the bottom of the stairs.

They called an ambulance and Ms Frankum, 24, regained consciousness on the way to hospital. She said she had never thought of teaching Jason what to do if she suffered a fit.

She said: “All I remember is walking down the stairs carrying some washing, then the next thing was coming round in an ambulance.

“I dread to think what could have happened if I was on my own. I could have been there for hours or days even.

“I could have swallowed my tongue and choked to death.

“He’s my little lifesaver, he really is.”

Ms Frankum has had epilepsy since she was five and was unconscious for more than 10 minutes during the fit.

She added: “I bought Jason some toy cars when I was well again and he said ‘thank you mummy’, but I said, no thank you, because he saved my life.

“Thinking about it just brings me to tears.”

The family suffered a tragedy in March this yearwhen their daughter Amy Newton, who was born premature, died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) when she was just four weeks old.

They now plan to teach Jason first aid and how to put someone in the recovery position in case his mother ever suffers an epileptic fit again.

Paramedic Matt Luker, whose daughter goes to school with Jason, was a member of the ambulance crew called to the scene on November 4.

He said: “Jason’s actions helped to ensure a happy ending for his mother.

“It’s quite remarkable that a four-year-old child can witness his mother fitting and still have the presence of mind to summon help for her.

“He was enormously brave and did not cry once we were on the scene in spite of everything that was happening.

“She took a long time to come round and her oxygen levels were low so it was possible without Jason being there she could have been in more trouble.”

mwilkinson@oxfordmail.co.uk

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