This story is about how a 12-year-old boy saved his mother’s life by grabbing the wheel and calling emergency services for help after she collapsed while driving.
Zac Howells, a 12-year-old, took control of his mother Nicola’s car and drove it to safety after she passed out behind the wheel while traveling at 60mph.
The 37-year-old lost consciousness, but her foot stayed on the accelerator before Zac managed to slow the car down before hitting a barrier.
Once Zac was able to stop the vehicle on the A40 near Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire, he turned off the engine. He used the phone to call emergency services. West Mercia Police has released an audio recording of the call that shows Zac staying completely calm while directing call-handlers to their location, even though it was in Wales, across the border.
Zac can be heard saying, “I’m driving on a motorway, and my mom just fainted, so I had to crash the car to stop.
“Her foot went down on the pedal and it started accelerating, so I had to crash into the barrier. I’m really scared.”
Then, when Nicola woke up, Zac told her, “It’s alright. Calm down, it’s fine. Hold my hand.
“Mum…” he said, continuing to soothe her… “Breathe.”
“I just drove the car. It’s really easy.”
Nicola can be heard apologizing to Zac as he continues to reassure her. “It’s fine, I’m worried about you not me… I knew we were going to be fine.”
This week, Zac was recognized for his bravery when the police department gave him a Chief Constable’s Commendation.
He visited the force’s headquarters in Worcester, meeting the call-handlers and officers who responded to the incident in December.
Nicola, from Wales, told the BBC she was “just so proud of him” and “so appreciative” of the effort that everyone made to create a “fuss” over Zac. Nicola and Zac had been traveling from Wales to the Birmingham Christmas market when the drama happened.
During the award ceremony, Chief Constable Richard Cooper said:
“I am delighted to present Zac with this award today, following what must have been an extremely frightening experience for such a young boy. For a 12-year-old to react in such a calm and mature manner is magnificent, and I would like to express my gratitude for his actions that day. His display of bravery certainly extinguished any danger to them both—but also that of other members of the public who were on the road that day.”
