A 12-year-old boy saved his mother when she lost consciousness behind the wheel of her car on the road. The minor took control, managed to stop him and called the emergency services.
On Saturday, December 20, Zac Howells accompanied his mother Nicola Crump – 37 years old – to do Christmas shopping. They left their home in Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, Galesand they took the A40 route towards Birmingham.
As Crump told BBC Radio Wales Breakfastthey left at 5:30 in the morning, and «everything was going well.» They decided not to have breakfast to «buy something on the way.» Halfway through, Nicole started «getting really hot.»
Zac saved his mother when she passed out behind the wheel of her car on the road. Photo: BBC.«I rolled down the window and took off my coat. I felt like I was going to faintwas drenched in sweat. I told Zac, ‘I’m leaving, I don’t feel good,'» she recalled.
The woman, who was driving on the left side, managed to move off the road and turn on the emergency lights, but when she lost consciousness she stepped on the accelerator and the car accelerated at almost 97 kilometers per hour.
Zac’s bold reaction that avoided disaster
Zac said he tried to wake her up, but when he realized she wasn’t reacting, he decided to take control of the wheel. He took advantage of the grass on the edge of the road to stop the vehicle and turn off the engine.
«I was really scared, but I knew I had to do something,» he said, detailing that when he called the emergency room, he noticed that his mother’s chest was «moving,» which is how he knew she was «breathing.»
«Zac kept me so calm. He said ‘it’s okay, mom, don’t be nervous, you’re okay,'» Nicola said. «We were going on the left of the road and now we were on the right side, next to the barrier. I asked Zac: ‘Have we crashed?’ «Then I could see the flashing blue lights coming towards us,» he added.
Zac said he tried to wake her up, but when he realized she wasn’t reacting, he decided to take control of the wheel. Photo: BBC.Paramedics and police arrived at the scene and treated Nicola. Although no one was injured, they told the woman that thad «very low» blood pressure. Zac and Nicola were then picked up by a family member.
«Zac is my hero, he saved both of our lives. But he is very modest about it and doesn’t understand why there was such a fuss,» said Nicola, who was passed out for eight minutes.
The boy was invited to West Mercia Police headquarters, outside Worcester, where staff plan to present him with a certificate in recognition for his bravery.
«It was incredible: his quick thinking, the way he stayed so calm, the way he talked to the police, the way he calmed me down. He wasn’t panicking, he was just incredible,» his mother said.
