Brave Thomas, four, hailed a hero

11 March 2010

When Thomas Ward’s mum suffered a bad fall at home, the quick thinking four-year-old knew exactly what to do.

Mum Helen broke her leg after falling down the stairs at the family home in Huyton, and was unable to move.

Thomas, a pupil at St Margaret Mary’s Catholic Infant School in Huyton, grabbed the phone to call an ambulance and helped mind his baby brother James while they waited for it to arrive. Their mum’s necklace had snapped during the accident and the one-year-old had picked up some of the loose beads and put them in his mouth. Helen was unable to reach him but Thomas calmly took the beads from James’ mouth and put them out of his reach. He also gently lifted his brother from the sofa when he climbed up, saving him from falling.

When the ambulance arrived, Thomas found the house keys and posted them through the letter box so that the crew could get in.

Thomas’s heroic actions were praised by paramedics and his school, who held a special Well Done Thomas event in class in his honour.

His class teacher, Mrs Nora Palmer, said: “When we heard about what Thomas had done, we spoke to all the children about what had happened and how Thomas had done exactly the right thing.

“We all think he’s a real hero and a great example to the others about what to do in an emergency.”

Mayor of Knowsley, Cllr Dave Smithson, was guest of honour at the celebrations, along with the Mayoress, Cllr Sarah Smithson. Thomas’s classmates had organised a mini concert followed by a party to mark the occasion.

Mum Helen said: “All the family are so proud of Thomas for what he did. Without him there things could have been much worse. He was really calm and helpful and kept James out of harms way.

“He was delighted with the party at school and meeting the Mayor was the icing on the cake.”

See photos of Thomas on Knowsley Council’s Flickr site here