Quick-thinking boy is a 999 call lifesaver

The tot dialled 999 after his mum Nicola fell ill and collapsed.

Oliver was just two, and all the police call-taker could hear was mumbling and gurgling on the other end of the line that made little sense.

But the call-taker persevered after making out that Oliver was saying “mummy fell down” and keeping him on the line, he established the address from the landline before sending officers round.

Nicola, 34, of Ellerby Mews, Thornley, had taught her daughter Lillia, four, how to make an emergency call but had no idea Oliver was also taking in the information.

She had been running up and down the stairs with washing and fainted due to low blood pressure.

Nicola, married to Andrew, a 36-year-old courier, said she remembers coming round and seeing her son on the phone chatting. Then she heard someone on the line saying the police were on their way.

Nicola, who is studying primary education at Sunderland University, said: “I’m so proud of him. He is so shy and doesn’t speak to anybody really, even face to face, and couldn’t really put a sentence together at the time.

“He had suffered from glue ear and his speech was delayed. He is absolutely amazing, my little superhero.”

Paramedics also attended her home, and she was checked over and given the all-clear following the incident in May.

Durham Constabulary call handler, Michael Walton has won a WOW! award for customer service for the way he handled the call.