A six-year-old has been handed a special bravery award by South Central Ambulance Service for calling paramedics to his home after his mother collapsed during an emergency.

Charlie Ware, from Wallingford, dialled 999 of his own accord one evening in late November last year after his mother collapsed and was unresponsive.

Charlie’s immediate response and knowledge allowed for paramedics to swiftly respond to the call, reach his home and assist his mother.

He was the eldest of three children in the home at the time, remaining on the phone and answering the emergency services’ questions with as much detail as possible.

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When paramedics arrived, his mother was then taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

In recognition of his bravery and efforts, Charlie was presented with a Super Special Bravery Award at a presentation at Wallingford Community Hospital on Friday (January 12).

The award was handed to him by 999 Ted, a mascot bear from the ambulance service.

Charlie was accompanied by his mother and one of his siblings to the presentation.

During the award presentation he met the two ambulance personnel he spoke with on the phone when he made the 999 call, Bryony Woodhead and Ellie Atkins.

Ms Woodhead said: “The second the call came in, we noted that Charlie was very calm and remained so throughout the process.

"He told us his mum’s name, age, that wasn’t awake or responsive and gave us his full address too.

“I’ve spoken to children before but never one who could give the full address and remain so calm and composed.

"He’s without doubt the smartest six-year-old I’ve ever spoken to.

“We were surprised he was six given how much he knew. He was so knowledgeable.”

Ms Atkins said: “We have to trust what someone is telling us and often children aren’t as informative. Charlie was fantastic – he answered every question and followed our instructions.

“There’s a real gravity and severity to the situation because all you want is for the patient to be okay and an ambulance to reach them immediately.”

Charlie’s mother, Victoria Nicholls, has since made a full recovery.

Ms Nicholls said: “It was a very scary experience with so many mixed emotions. All of us in the home were at least slightly unwell at the time.

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“Waking up and seeing ambulance personnel stood over me was so overwhelming I almost completely broke down.

“I’ve always told Charlie what to do in emergency situations – knowing that’s stuck makes me proud. I’m so happy with how he responded.

“His school held a special assembly for him and his grandma is so proud too. Luckily I’m a lot better now."