A BRAVE seven-year-old kept his nerve when his mum collapsed from a stroke, looked after his toddler sister and telephoned his grandmother for help.
Owen Griffiths, nine, had just got home from his first day back at school when his mum, Cindy, 36, fell over in the hallway of the family flat last autumn.
Within moments, he did what he knew best and called his grandmother, Sue Griffiths, while keeping his younger sister Tamsin, who was only 18 months old at the time, calm until the ambulance arrived.
On Saturday, the plucky youngster was awarded the rare Medal of Meritorious Conduct by the 12th Northolt Scout Group for his bravery.
His scout leader and aunt Louise O'Leary said: "The Scout Association hardly ever give this out; he is one of the youngest to ever get it.
"Cindy had no signs of being ill. She came out of the bathroom and collapsed. Then he phoned his Nanny, my mum. He said, 'Nan, Mum's not well, she's fallen over and now being sick.'"
Mrs O'Leary and Mrs Griffiths called the ambulance while they rushed over to the flat in Aspen Lane, Northolt. When the ambulance arrived, medics treated Miss Griffiths for the early stages of a stroke.
"They couldn't believe how quickly they got there. With stroke victims, they get a headache but that didn't start until she was at the hospital," Mrs O'Leary said.
"I had them for three weeks and he never once moaned or complained, his school work didn't suffer. He was an absolute angel and assisting his little sister."
Miss Griffiths was in hospital for three weeks, and although she has lost some of her peripheral vision which means she cannot drive, she is now back to normal - thanks to Owen's quick thinking.
She said: "I am so proud of him, I cannot even describe it - to keep it together and just be able to do what he had to do. He was very, very grown up. Even though it affected my eyesight he said at least you're still here.
"He helped me afterwards, carrying the shopping and not moaning when we had to take the bus instead of going in the car."
