An eight-year-old boy from Kent has been praised for his incredible bravery after instinctively taking over a 999 call when his mum collapsed at home.

On the evening of 17 October 2024, Henry was at home with his mum Andrea and younger sister Emily when Andrea, who has a long-standing heart condition, began to feel faint and unwell. She managed to dial 999 before losing consciousness.

Without hesitation, Henry stepped in and spoke to Emergency Medical Advisor, Ella-May Ford, providing their home address and vital information about his mum’s condition.

Staying calm under pressure, Henry followed Ella-May’s instructions to ensure Andrea’s airway was clear and gently placed her in the recovery position. He even took care of his younger sister by settling her upstairs with some colouring to keep her calm, and phoned his dad to let him know what was happening.

Ella-May remained on the line with Henry until ambulance crews arrived. Crewmates Ellie Colvin and Laura Williams were dispatched to the family home, with Henry running outside to flag them down and make sure they found the house without delay on that dark evening.

Thanks to Henry’s actions, Ellie and Laura were able to help Andrea regain consciousness and assess her safely at home.

In recognition of his exceptional courage and maturity, Henry was invited to SECAmb’s Ashford Make Ready Centre where he was presented with a certificate of recognition by Ellie, Laura and Ella-May.

Trainee Associate Ambulance Practitioner, Ellie said: “Henry was a rockstar. He knew exactly what to do, and his calm, thoughtful actions made all the difference that night. It’s not easy for any adult to handle that kind of situation, let alone an eight-year-old.”

Andrea added: “I’m incredibly proud of Henry. I can’t remember much about what happened, but hearing how he stepped up to help me and looked after his sister brings me to tears. He’s my little hero.”

Ella-May added: “If I didn’t know Henry was eight, I would have thought he was so much older. He stayed exceptionally calm and followed my instructions to a tee. He communicated clearly, listened carefully and made sure his mum was in the best possible position until help arrived. He really took control of the situation in a way that was well beyond his years.”