A little boy who stopped breathing on a family holiday in the Lake District will be joined by his young brother to raise money for the medics who saved him.

Isaac Hoey, now aged five, will fundraise for the Great North Air Ambulance (GNASS), which airlifted him to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle in 2018 when he was aged just six months.

Following treatment from the crew at the scene, Isaac was admitted to intensive care where doctors found out he was suffering from bronchitis.

The Northern Echo: Isaac in intensive care in 2018.Isaac in intensive care in 2018. (Image: GNAAS)

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Now, five years on, Isaac and his three-year-old brother Elijah will take part in the GNAAS ‘Race to the base’ fundraising challenge for the second year in a row - after raising more than £700 in 2022.

The Northern Echo: Isaac, Elijah, mum Helen and dad Steven.Isaac, Elijah, mum Helen and dad Steven. (Image: GNAAS)

Recalling the incident, Isaac’s mum, Helen Hoey, said: “On the Monday morning we had packed the car and were ready to go home when Isaac started crying in his car seat.

“It’s normal for a baby to cry, but then he was having a coughing fit whilst he was crying and his face went blue, so I shouted for my husband Steven and between us we rang an ambulance.”

Isaac’s father, Steven Hoey, performed CPR and managed to get Isaac breathing again just before paramedics from the North West Ambulance Service and a paramedic and doctor team from GNAAS - which serves the North East, North Yorkshire, Cumbria and Isle of Man - arrived.

Isaac, from Sunderland, was administered oxygen by GNAAS’ critical care team before being airlifted to the paediatric intensive care unit at the RVI in Newcastle, where it was revealed that Isaac was suffering from bronchiolitis.

The ‘Race to the base’ challenge is held virtually, and sees participants cover a choice of either 32,78, 130 or 280 miles representing the distance the air ambulances critical care team can cover while responding to incidents.

The brothers will now walk, run and scooter for 32 miles over the course of a month, from May 1 to 31, with a walk up to Roseberry Topping planned as part of the challenge.

The Northern Echo: The Hoey family with the crew in 2018.The Hoey family with the crew in 2018. (Image: GNAAS)

Five years on from the air ambulance's care, young Isaac has had more bouts of bronchitis but has recovered well and will now fundraise once again for the charity his mum Helen has described as “so important”.

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She said: “The service is so important particularly at a time when the NHS paramedics are under so much pressure.

“You just never know when you might need help from the air ambulance and as it relies heavily on donations, events like Race to the Base are a good way to show support and a great way to raise funds.”

For more information about the 'Race to the Base' challenge, click here.