Saved by her seven-year-old: Mum alive and proud after son's quick thinking

Single mum Leanne Smith collapsed unexpectedly at her home on Barlow Road, Wednesbury, on the morning of Thursday, February 23.

The next thing the 27-year-old remembers is waking up with her son Kye, aged seven, and daughter Lacey, four, surrounding her alongside paramedics, while her youngest daughter Lexi, aged one, was upstairs blissfully unaware of the drama unfolding.

Leanne was rushed to Walsall Manor Hospital where the full terror of what happened hit home.

Doctors told her she had suffered a severe kidney infection which had led to sepsis. They said if it had not been for brave Kye ringing 999 and following advice from the operator to put his mum in the recovery position then she could have been dead within hours.

Leanne said: "I am so proud of my son. I am absolutely over the moon with him for what he did.

"If it weren't for him I would not be here. He knows that I have told him that."

She added: "I was absolutely petrified when they told me what it was. Obviously I had all sorts of things running through my mind.

"What's going to happen to my children if I die.

"But since it has happened it has just been a wake-up call.

"I do a lot with my children anyway but now I just want to make the most of every minute with them.

"This has scared the life out of me."

Despite Leanne pouring praise on Kye, who goes to Albert Pritchard Infant School in Wednesbury, she also has herself to thank.

A few years ago she made the conscious decision to tell him exactly what to do in an emergency. Now that has paid off and she has urged other parents to do the same.

Leanne said: "As a single mum I was worried if anything happened to me my children they wouldn't know what to do. Your kids are your priority and you always want to make them safe but they are not safe if you are conked out on the floor.

"So from the age of four I told Kye my full name, date of birth, our address and to how to ring 999 on my mobile phone.

"I said this is what you do if you can't wake mummy up. It has stuck in his little head.

"I never thought he would have to use it. I can't believe he thought as quickly as he did.

"He rang 999 and the paramedic told him to put me on my side."

She added: "I would say all parents need to tell their children what to do in an emergency as early as possible.

"Their little minds are like sponges. They take it all in. "

A West Midlands Ambulance spokesman confirmed one ambulance was called to Barlow Road, Wednesbury at 9.57am to attend a medical emergency.

He confirmed the crew treated a woman in her 20s and took her to Walsall Manor Hospital.