Overview
- The incident occurred on December 14 as Nicola Crump and her son, Zac Howells, traveled from Ebbw Vale toward the Birmingham Christmas market.
- After his mother fainted at about 60 mph with her foot on the accelerator, Zac steered into the central reservation to slow the car, stopped it, switched off the engine, and called 999.
- Newly released audio captures the 12-year-old calmly directing call-handlers and saying his mother was “snoring,” reflecting his composure during the emergency.
- Police and paramedics arrived within minutes, and checks found Nicola had very low blood pressure; both were uninjured and the car, though damaged, was not written off.
- At West Mercia Police HQ in Hindlip, Zac met the call-handler and responding officers and received a Chief Constable’s Commendation, with Chief Constable Richard Cooper praising his maturity and bravery.