Eight-year-old Reece Bethel receives his St John Ambulance Young First Aider award from former MP and BBC correspondent Martin Bell

A QUICK-THINKING schoolboy who rushed to his mum's rescue when she fell downstairs and was knocked unconscious has received a national award.

Eight-year-old Reece Bethel was one of just 14 children to be given a Young First Aider award by first-aid charity St John Ambulance after he kept his cool in an emergency situation.

The young hero was getting ready for school when his mother Dawn, 29, blacked out and fell down the stairs of their home in George Street, Brookvale, Basingstoke.

The Fairfields Primary School pupil said: "I felt a little bit nervous. I stayed with mummy and checked her breathing and phoned for my granddad."

Proud Miss Bethel said: "He didn't want to call the ambulance and waste their time if I wasn't ill enough, so he called my dad. He just told him that I'd hurt myself and didn't say that I was unconscious, and Reece waited with me for 25 minutes."

Miss Bethel came to just after her father George arrived. She was taken to Basingstoke hospital, where she was treated for a severely sprained wrist and back pain.

The young first aider insisted on staying with her that day, on February 1, while she was treated at the hospital.

Reece was presented with his award by former MP and BBC correspondent Martin Bell, in London, and was accompanied by his grandparents, mum and her partner.

Reece learned first aid as a Badger with Basingstoke's St John Ambulance, where he has been a member for three years. He said he has two more badges to get before he becomes a Super Badger.

Miss Bethel - who runs the St John's Ambulance scheme in Houndmills, Basingstoke, every Friday - believes that all children should become members.

She said: "Nothing phases Reece. If someone falls in the playground, he takes it in his stride, and he still doesn't understand why everybody's making a fuss over what he did!

"With St John Ambulance, they do a bit of everything, like Scouts and Guides, but with an emphasis on first aid and caring for people."

Badgers is for youngsters aged five to 10, while those aged 10 to 18 can join the Cadets. Anyone wanting more information can call 01962 863366.

8:37am Sunday 6th July 2008

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