A quick-thinking 12-year-old boy has been hailed a hero after saving his mother's life when she passed out at the wheel of their moving car on a major motorway.
A Terrifying Journey to the Christmas Market
Nicola Crump and her son Zac Howells were travelling from their home in Ebbw Vale to Birmingham's Christmas Market on December 14. The journey took a frightening turn as they travelled along the A40 near Ross-on-Wye. Nicola began to feel unwell, describing a sudden sensation of being "really hot".
She managed to warn Zac and activate the hazard lights, but lost consciousness before she could bring the car to a complete stop or apply the handbrake. As she passed out, her foot pressed down on the accelerator, sending the car speeding forward with an unconscious driver.
Zac's Incredible Presence of Mind
With his mother unconscious and the car accelerating, Zac immediately sprang into action. The brave schoolboy first tried to wake his mum before taking control of the steering wheel himself. Showing remarkable calm, he steered the vehicle into the central reservation, using the friction to slow it down until it jolted to a halt.
Once stopped, Zac's next steps were flawless. He switched off the engine using the car's stop-start button and immediately called 999. He clearly relayed their precise location to emergency operators, who could hear him saying "she's snoring" and asking if his mum could hear him. Nicola was unconscious for seven to eight minutes before waking to find her son on the phone to the emergency services.
Recognition for Exceptional Bravery
Thankfully, neither Zac nor Nicola were injured, and the car, though damaged, was not a write-off. Paramedics later discovered Nicola had experienced a sudden episode of very low blood pressure. Following the incident, Zac's actions were formally recognised by West Mercia Police.
On Wednesday, January 14, Zac and Nicola were invited to the force's headquarters in Hindlip, Worcestershire. There, Zac met the call handler who took his 999 call and officers who attended. In a special ceremony, Chief Constable Richard Cooper presented Zac with a Chief Constable’s Commendation.
This award is given for "exceptional bravery, outstanding courage and actions that go beyond what is normally expected". Chief Constable Cooper praised Zac's "calm and mature manner", stating his actions extinguished danger for his family and other road users.
Nicola, immensely proud of her son, called him her "little hero". She reflected on the terror of the situation, saying, "He saved our lives and who knows who else's... You don't prepare for anything like that! It was incredible - his quick thinking, the way he stayed so calm."
