THIS inspirational youngster may not be able to write his own name yet – but he knew what to do when his mum collapsed.
Little Jack Hazell, 3, has been dubbed "mummy's little hero" after dialling 999 when his mum Becky Fursman was taken ill.
Becky, 28, of Columbia Road, Grimsby, said she had begun to feel unwell towards the end of last week.
The single mum thought nothing of it until Thursday night, when she could not stop shivering in bed. She recalls feeling sick and spaced-out, so she got up to go downstairs to the toilet.
However, before she could reach it, she collapsed to the floor.
What happened next remains unclear, though she said she did remember seeing Jack next to her at one point.
She said: "I heard him talking in the background – I did not know who to at the time, but now I know he was on the phone. He said 'is this the doctor? My mummy needs a doctor,' then I heard 'please don't take her away – I have to go now, bye'."
"At the time I was not really registering it all and just thought he was talking to himself."
She started to come round and Jack told her to go back to bed, which she did after putting Jack back to bed.
She added: "I was unsteady on my feet but I knew I could not leave Jack on his own, so I put him back to bed and told him things were fine.
"Next thing there was a knock on the door and Jack was up quickly to answer it.
"It was the police, they had traced his message to the house.
"Jack managed to let them in – how I really do not know, as my door is tough for me to open – and they came upstairs.
"My parents were also contacted and looked after Jack while paramedics treated me.
"I was taken into hospital with a temperature reading 44 degrees and stayed in overnight."
Becky was told she had a severe case of the flu and her high temperature is what caused her to collapse.
She is still recovering at home but wants to congratulate her son for his brave actions. She said: "He was a such a star to have done what he did.
"Seeing your parent ill for any child is daunting but I have always told Jack what number to call if there is an emergency and no one else is around.
"You don't think at such a young age they take much on board, but Jack listens to everything.
"He is my all, I love him to pieces. He turns four on Sunday and deserves a special treat."
Jack is also pleased his mum is getting better.
He said: "My mummy was poorly and needed help. I like to help her."
Paramedic Steve Pratten, of East Midlands Ambulance Service, also praised the 3-year-old, adding: "This is such a great thing to hear.
"I would encourage all parents to teach their children from an early age about the emergency services and the number to call at the right time.
"As a service we go into schools and educate children about what we do.
"It is nice to see this little boy has acted sensibly and got in touch by dialling 999."
