DARREN and Claire Nelson have two heroic sons to thank for keeping their family together this Christmas after they saved their diabetic dad’s life.
Earlier this month, Mr Nelson became seriously unwell when he was alone with the boys at home in Toft Hill, near Bishop Auckland.
The 45-year-old was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a child and manages the condition well using insulin, along with a sensor on his arm to monitor his blood sugar levels.
But on Saturday, December 11, just two hours after he had his Covid booster jab, his sugar dropped so rapidly that he had no time to react before he collapsed and hit his head on a radiator as he fell.
Eight-year-old Isaac quickly realised his daddy was in danger and took control of the situation.
He calmly put the family’s puppy, Willow, in her crate to keep her safe, and told younger brother, Joseph, five, that everything would be okay but they needed to get help.
He then climbed over a 6ft garden gate and ran out into the street in search of help.
When he got no answer next door, he spotted a car approaching and ran towards the road waving for the driver to stop.
Mother-of-two Nikki Smith, a healthcare assistant at Bishop Auckland Hospital, pulled over and went to Mr Nelson’s aid and called 999.
With the information Isaac and Joseph gave her, she was able to explain to the ambulance service that Mr Nelson was in trouble because of his diabetes and medics soon arrived.
Mr Nelson was seriously ill but after treatment from paramedics at the scene and numerous tests at Darlington Memorial Hospital, he was reunited with his family, at home, by 11.30pm that night.
He said: “I don’t really remember much.
“If something isn’t right with my sugars, the sensor on my arm sets off an alarm on my phone and watch and gives me sufficient time to do something about it.
“I remember feeling a bit hazy. My phone didn’t go off but the watch did but, by then, I physically couldn’t do anything about it.
“I must have tried to get some Lucozade for sugar because one was out but I don’t remember, Isaac said I staggered in the kitchen then I must have collapsed and hit my head on the radiator.
“After that I was unconscious for two-and-a-half hours, maybe longer while the ambulance crew worked on me at home.
“It is amazing how quickly the boys reacted and how well they did, they are incredible really.”
Nikki Smith and daughter Kacie, 11, left, went to help Mr Nelson and called 999 after Isaac stopped their car, as captured on CCTV, right
Miss Smith, 29, was initially unsure about stopping to talk to a boy on his own but soon realised it was an emergency.
She said: “I put the window down and he said his dad was laid on the kitchen floor, bleeding, so I just dumped the car and went over.
“I just did what I would hope anyone would do in a situation like that, get out of the car and help. It is those boys who deserve the credit, if they hadn’t struggled over the gate and known what to say it could have been a very different story.”
Miss Smith also paid credit to her daughter Kacie, 11, who sat with Isaac and Joseph to stop them getting upset whilst she put Mr Nelson in the recovery position, comforted him and dealt with the emergency services.
Mrs Nelson is a hairdresser and was at work in Bishop Auckland as the drama unfolded at home.
She said: “The 999 call handler managed to get hold of me to say I had to get home.
“My client took me to my brother’s and he took me home, my dad came, and they took the boys away.
“As parents you sometimes wonder if you’re doing alright – we must be.
“You can see on CCTV from next door how they ran out for help, even remembering their road safety.
“The lady that helped did so much and was so kind and respectful.
“Really, I’m so grateful that the boys knew what to do, for the people that came and helped and that he's okay.
“I’ve been with Darren 20 years and he’s never been this bad, I’ve only used his insulin pen three times, so he really was very poorly.
“He had one emergency glucose but his veins had shrunk so they were struggling to get a line in for more. His legs were thrashing so I had to hold them down, he changed colour to grey and went stiff so they had to cut his jacket off him.
“Eventually he started picking up and went to Darlington hospital and he’s well again now.
“It could have had a very different outcome.
“The boys, especially Joseph, ask if superheroes are real. We say yes, you are superheroes.
“I don’t think they realise how much they have done.”
The boys’ bravery and quick-thinking has been recognised by their school, Toft Hill Primary, and the Angel Trust charity, which both presented them with awards.
Claire and Darren Nelson with sons Isaac and Joseph, with Michelle Telford, an ambassador with the charity Angel Trust
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