A TODDLER has been hailed as a hero after helping his mother who fell down the stairs while carrying him.
Naomi Searson was carrying 18-month-old Benjamin down the stairs at their home to start the day when she lost her footing and tumbled to the bottom.
Naomi, 26, of Darton, said: “I don’t know what happened, I just lost my footing. I was holding Benjamin in my arms. When we got to the bottom, I tried to get up but my leg was not good and then the pain hit me and I thought I was going to be sick and started passing out.
“I was thinking that I hadn’t given Benjamin his breakfast, or changed his nappy, but I couldn’t get up. I had an 18-month-old toddler and I couldn’t look after him. I was absolutely terrified, I was panicking.”
Naomi said although Benjamin was initially shocked, he was unhurt and crawled off her to go and play with his toys. But when he realised his mum wasn’t following him, he quickly returned.
“When he realised I wasn’t OK, he just went into hero mode. I was sat up against the wall and he came over to me and put his arms around me and gave me a big cuddle. I grabbed my phone to try and phone for help but I was struggling and I was trying not to cry because that would upset him.
“He has a special blanket when he is poorly, and he brought me that and fetched me a teddy and a book. He kept saying ‘oh no mamma’.
Naomi dialled 999 but was told there was a four-hour wait for an ambulance because her injuries were not life threatening. So she instead called her father who came to her aid. Benjamin also grabbed Naomi’s phone and pressed the buttons until someone answered, but her friends already knew what had happened and reassured Benjamin.
As they were waiting for her dad to arrive, Naomi was still struggling not to pass out. Benjamin pulled himself up to the letterbox to reach a leaflet and took it over to Naomi.
“For Benjamin, that is a big deal because he has gross-motor delay and doesn’t stand very well.
“Every time I stopped reading the leaflet, he pointed at it. It’s like he knew I needed to stay awake.
“He kept me calm and looked after me, reassuring me and making me smile. Once I knew my dad was on his way, I started to feel a bit calmer.”
Realising they needed a distraction, Naomi asked Benjamin to bring her the television remote so she could put on some cartoons.
When her dad arrived, he fixed Benjamin some breakfast. They then dropped him at a friend’s house while they went to Barnsley Hospital.
Naomi said: “They were amazing. We were in and out in 45 minutes.
“I have a partial tear to one of my ligaments so I’m on crutches for a couple of weeks and I’ve got to phone a physiotherapist.
“I’m very lucky. I’m so impressed with how calm Benjamin was. He was so loving and caring, and didn’t complain about his breakfast.
“He was making sure I was OK first and for a toddler, that is incredible. I’m so proud of him.”
