A mum has described the horrifying moment her young son suffered a seizure - and her first aid training deserted her.
When toddler Toby Larter turned blue and stopped breathing at their home in Nailsea, North Somerset last month (August), mother-of-two Zoe didn't know what to do.
Despite her training, Zoe said she went blank at the dreadful moment - and felt entirely helpless.
Panicking, she called 999 - and said she was met with "incredible" support from dispatcher Natasha Pike.
Zoe said: "She was calm, clear and explained exactly what I needed to do to help our son while the ambulance was on its way.
“The lady in the hub stayed on the phone with me until the crew were with me in the house.
"This gave me so much reassurance.”
Zoe was told to lie Toby, one, on his back and check his airways.
Then, when he started breathing again, the mum was asked to say 'now' every time he took a breath.
An ambulance arrived a short time later and South Western Ambulance Service crew members took control of the situation.
Toby was then taken to hospital, where it emerged he had suffered a febrile seizure - fits which can happen when a child has a fever.
Although frightening and distressing, the fits are usually harmless.
Toby returned home a short while later and has since made a fully recovery.
The pair met with the ambulance team who came to her son's aid yesterday (September 11) at their dispatch station in Nailsea to thank them.
Zoe, who works as head of charity at South Western Ambulance Service, said: "I’m so grateful to the team. I hear stories every day about how incredible our teams are and that weekend I saw it for myself.
"I couldn’t be more proud to be working in the same organisation as these heroes.”
For the latest news in and around Bristol, check back on Bristol Live's homepage
