Mighty Oakley, nine, is hero for quick thinking after mum's collapse

Oakley Hughes, nine, was out on his bike with mum Emma running alongside with their dog when a car flashed across their path. The dog was startled and caused Emma to fall and get her hand stuck in the spokes of Oakley's bike, breaking her wrist in the process.

When they arrived home, Oakley rushed upstairs to fetch a first aid kit, but when he got back downstairs he found Emma unconscious. But, rather than panic, he used her thumb to unlock her phone and call for an ambulance. He followed the call handler's instructions to keep his mum comfortable and helped direct the paramedics to their home in Donnington, Telford.

Emma, who is in the Army, told how Ladygrove Primary School pupil Oakley kept a cool head in a scary situation.

"Because we've been home schooling, normally I have one of the boys and the other goes to their nan," she said. "I go for a run every morning so we went out together. A car went past us and spooked the dog. The dog ran under my feet and I couldn't stop. I fell and my hand got caught in Oakley's bike wheel. I smashed my knee and both wrists.

"I got my hand free from the bike but I knew I was going to pass out. I needed to get back indoors because I didn't want to pass out in the street. Oakley helped me back into the house.

"He went to get his first aid kit but he came back down and I was passed out on the floor. He got a pillow for my head and used my thumb to open my phone and call 999. When I came to he was on the phone to the ambulance crew. They said he did an excellent job."

'A very caring boy'

Thankfully Emma is now on the mend. "My hand is in a splint. I'm more upset about my leggings," she joked.

Preparing Oakley and his little brother Chester, five, was something Emma was keen to do, but she was surprised to see how naturally Oakley took to the challenge when disaster struck.

"We've had conversations about it," she said. "My husband works away a lot so we thought it would be important that the boys know what to do. I'm surprised he remembered. He didn't even think, he just did it.

"He loves the outdoors. He's a very caring boy. His little brother has cystic fibrosis so that may be why."

Emily Guess, deputy head at Ladygrove Primary School, said: "What amazed me was the way he was totally matter-of-fact about it when he told us in assembly. He is very innovative. From reception he has always been creative. We're so proud of him."