Zac Howells will receive the Child of Courage Award at London’s Pride of Britain Awards, honouring his extraordinary bravery.
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. At just 12, he found himself trying to control a moving car after his mother lost consciousness behind the wheel. What happened next helped avert what could have been a devastating crash. According to an online report by AOL, 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.
A routine journey takes a frightening turn
According to an AOL report, last December, Zac was travelling with his mother, Nicola Crump, from their home in Ebbw Vale towards a Christmas market in Warwickshire. The journey had begun like any other, with the pair listening to music as Nicola drove along the A40 in Herefordshire. They were travelling at around 60mph when Nicola began to feel unwell. She managed to slow the car and guide it partly onto a narrow verge. Within moments, however, she lost consciousness. The situation became even more dangerous because the automatic car remained in drive. With Nicola's foot still on the accelerator, the vehicle began moving back towards the dual carriageway and gathering speed. Zac immediately realised that something was seriously wrong.
A split-second decision
As per the report, the 12-year-old had no time to wait for help. 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. He then switched off the engine and called 999. 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 decision to use the central reservation as a means of stopping the vehicle came with its own risks, but it prevented the car from continuing into the road or potentially leaving the carriageway, adds the online report.
Staying focused after the crash
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. His 999 call captured the seriousness of the situation, but also his immediate concern for his mother. That combination of clear thinking and compassion became a defining part of the story.
A hero in the eyes of his family
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. 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.
