GRATEFUL Yvonne Baxter owes her life to her eight-year-old son Jamie and his pet dog.

The 44-year-old collapsed at home suffering from viral meningitis with only the youngster and his Tibetan terrier, Barney, at home.

Jamie kept a cool head when he found his mother semi-conscious on the kitchen floor.

Two weeks earlier he had listened carefully during first aid lessons at school. He knew how to put her in the recovery position and made sure her airways were clear. He then dialled 999 and called for an ambulance.

The operator told Jamie to do everything he could to keep her conscious. That's where he needed the help of Barney.

Jamie knew that nothing was more likely to keep her awake than the barking of the family pet.

So Jamie let him out of the garage and ushered him into the house. He then ran outside and began ringing the doorbell - guaranteed to make Barney bark furiously.

He then spent ten minutes dashing between the front door and his mum, patting her face and talking to her to keep her conscious.

Ambulance paramedics arrived at the family's home in Seaton Sluice, Northumberland, and whisked her to North Tyneside General Hospital where she was found to be seriously ill with viral meningitis.

She spent two days in intensive care and a further three weeks recuperating on a general ward.

When she regained consciousness nurses told her that, but for Jamie and Barney, she would certainly have died.

North East Ambulance Service staff were so impressed with Jamie that they presented him with a lifesavers certificate at Seaton Sluice First School