When 54-year-old Wayne Ashurst began to behave strangely, his nine-year-old son George did not panic and instead made a life-saving phone call.
Wayne, who has Type-2 diabetes, has praised his son saying if the Ernesettle Community School pupil had not reacted when he did, “I would’ve been dead”.
Wayne said: “It was December 28 and we were in my flat over the Christmas holidays. According to George I began to behave ‘weird and strange’.
“Apparently I was telling him it was time for bed in the middle of the day – it wasn’t even tea-time. Then I started opening and shutting the front door, just constantly, again and again.
“I wasn’t aware of it – I don’t recall a thing from that day. He knew something was up and he just wanted to keep me safe.”
George called his nan and told her “Nanny, Dad’s acting strange” and asked if she could come and check up on him. He stayed on the line, letting his Nanny and Grandad know what Wayne was doing – which included some unusual behaviour completely unlike his Dad.
On arrival, Wayne’s parents realised something was amiss medically and called for an ambulance while a kindly neighbour kept an eye on George.
(Image: Wayne Ashurst)
Wayne said: “It was some kind of diabetic shock. They put me in an induced coma and for the next three days I was out of it. After than I was in the Intensive Care Unit for two days and then a ward for two days before I was eventually discharged.
“I was told everything that happened, which I can’t remember, including my strange behaviour and, of course, what George had done. Even the hospital staff agreed that if he hadn’t called his Nan, and had just gone to bed like I’d apparently told him, then I would’ve been dead.”
George has now been given a bravery award by his school for his quick and calm thinking which resulted in his Dad getting live-saving treatment in time.
Wayne said: “I think what he did was so brave. He was so calm and I think he acted way above his years. He spotted something was up and knew he had to do something. I’ve called his school and spoke to his teacher – she couldn’t believe what he did. We’re all really proud of him.”
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