SCHOOLBOY Michael Ashburner was hailed a hero after saving his grandmother’s life.

The quickly-thinking 12-year-old used mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to revive Eileen Heery when she collapsed and stopped breathing during an asthma attack.

A few months later, he received an award and, as you can see from the picture, was carried shoulder-high by his admiring classmates.

The drama occurred in December 1984 when Michael, a pupil at Lawn Upton School, Littlemore, was staying with his grandmother. He was asleep when she collapsed in the bathroom, trapping her husband John beneath her.

Mr Heery’s cries for help woke Michael, who ran to help.

By the time he reached the scene, Mrs Heery had stopped breathing and Michael spent three minutes giving her the kiss of life to revive her.

He then ran downstairs and called for an ambulance before switching on all the house lights and opening the curtains to make it easier for the crew to find them.

Michael, of Henley Road, Sandford-on-Thames, had learned how to administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation at his swimming class.

He received the Royal Humane Society’s resuscitation award from the chairman of the Thames Valley Police Authority, Lieutenant Colonel John Walton, watched by Chief Constable Colin Smith, other senior officers, members of his family – and his whole school.

Mrs Heery, 64, said after the ceremony: “I’m lucky to be here. I had another birthday last week and it’s only thanks to Michael that I was around to celebrate it.”

Headmaster Hugh Turner said Michael’s cool-headed action was so inspiring that he planned to take life-saving lessons himself.

He said: “I’ve always felt guilty as a teacher that I don’t know enough about first aid. I will be proposing that all my staff go on a course so that we will all be qualified.”