Brave boy, 5, saves mum’s life as she lay in coma by calling number on toy ambulance

A brave five-year-old boy saved his mum’s life after she fell into a coma by calling the emergency number on his toy ambulance.

Josh Chapman watched his mum Caroline pass out in the sitting room of their home in Telford, Shropshire. She was in a diabetic coma, unconscious on the floor and Josh quickly leapt into action.

He spotted the number 112 on the side of his toy ambulance and dialled it. He was immediately connected to a police operator as the number connects straight to emergency services, and is recognised in Europe.

Proud mum Caroline, 41, said Josh called the number and told paramedics: “Mummy was playing cars and then her eyes closed.”

Full-time mum-of-two Caroline said little Josh managed to dial for help despite never using a phone before, thanks to his favourite toy ambulance.

Officers were able to locate Josh and his younger brother at the property and paramedics arrived to treat Caroline.

Caroline had been playing in the sitting room at home in Telford, Shropshire, with Josh and her other son Harry, who is 18-months-old, when she collapsed on July 28.

Caroline said: “I had just been playing cars with the boys and I suddenly blacked out.

“I woke up surrounded by paramedics – and a lot of toys – and they explained to me that Josh had called them and given them our address.”

She went on: “I couldn’t quite believe it. He has never used a phone before. He had looked at the number on the side of his toy ambulance and dialled 112.

“I didn’t even know that number was on there but it worked and I am so proud of him.

“Usually I feel my levels dropping but this time I didn’t. He said he went to fetch some sweeties but there was none in the jar so he called an ambulance.

“He told them, ‘mummy was playing cars and now her eyes have closed’. They stayed on the phone with him until they got here.”

Caroline explained: “He loves his cars and the emergency vehicles are his favourites. So he went straight to his favourite toy for assistance.

“There were toy cars everywhere by the time police and paramedics got here and my youngest son had fallen asleep on me. It must have been quite a scene but the emergency services were great.”

Brave Josh was later invited for a tour of his local police station, where he was shown around by officers.