Zac Howells will receive the Child of Courage Award at London’s Pride of Britain Awards, honouring his extraordinary bravery.
At just 12, he found himself trying to control a moving car after his mother lost consciousness behind the wheel. Now 13, Zac is being recognised with the Child of Courage Award at the Pride of Britain Awards for his actions that day, which not only protected him and his mother but potentially prevented other road users from being caught in a serious accident, according to an online report by AOL. As per the report, the 12-year-old had no time to wait for help. He then switched off the engine and called 999. His 999 call captured the seriousness of the situation, but also his immediate concern for his mother.
For most children, a car journey with a parent is an ordinary part of the day. For Zac Howells, one December drive suddenly became a test of instinct, courage and extraordinary composure. What happened next helped avert what could have been a devastating crash. He reached across from the passenger seat and grabbed the steering wheel, attempting to keep the vehicle under control as it moved towards the central reservation. He steered the car towards the barrier, using it to slow the vehicle until it finally came to a halt. In the middle of the chaos, Zac also used the car’s satnav to establish their location, giving emergency services the information they needed to reach them quickly, adds another report by The Forester. The danger did not end when the car stopped. Nicola remained unconscious for around seven minutes, leaving Zac to deal with the aftermath while waiting for police and paramedics, claims the report by AOL. Emergency responders later found that Nicola had suffered extremely low blood pressure. She is undergoing further cardiology investigations and has not yet returned to driving, informs the AOL report. For Zac, the experience was understandably terrifying. Yet those who responded to the emergency were struck by how composed he remained. That combination of clear thinking and compassion became a defining part of the story.
A hero in the eyes of his family
Zac’s bravery will now be formally recognised at the Pride of Britain Awards, where he will receive the Child of Courage Award at a ceremony at Grosvenor House in London on October 19. When Nicola regained consciousness, she saw emergency lights approaching and was initially confused about what had happened. Zac was physically trembling but remained focused on reassuring her. For his mother, the incident has brought home just how extraordinary his actions were. A journey that began as a simple trip to a Christmas market could easily have ended very differently.