FIVE-year-old Izzy Thompson reacted in a very grown-up way when her mum was struck by a heart problem.

Izzy was alone with mum Jo who was suddenly hit by an arrhythmia but the St Briavels School pupil remained calm, fetching crucial medication and raising the alarm.

Mrs Thompson said: “I have a pre-existing heart condition, an arrhythmia.

“I had a few seconds warning and I asked Izzy to get my tablets and a drink and then it’s quite sketchy.

“She acted very quickly because there is a stroke or heart attack risk but she got the medication and called for help.”

“I remember Izzy walking in with my handbag and a drink which meant I didn’t deteriorate as badly as I could have done and she went to get the phone and I told her the number to ring (my husband) Mark and she was very good at putting the numbers in correctly.

“Izzy was so brave and grown up – I know she was worried, but she kept calm, even reassuring me and she listened to all the instructions she was given.”

Izzy dialled 999, then phoned a neighbour who came to the house in St Briavels to assist.

She even packed an overnight bag for her mum, including a toothbrush, towel and Isabella the teddy, and a bag for herself.

Izzy said: “I did mummy’s first because I was worried that if the ambulance came sooner she would have to go quicker.”

They were advised to get a defibrillator – locals worked together to get four of the machines which regulate heartbeat for the village – as the ambulance was at an incident in Cinderford.

“I formed a charity, Heartbeat St Briavels, and we’ve got four defibrillators. Our neighbour is a GP and they have a code for the one in the playing fields.

“A paramedic and then the ambulance arrived but in the meantime Izzy went to pack a bag because she realised she was going to have to go somewhere.

“I’d also like to thank the paramedic and the ambulance crew for what they did for me and the cardiac nurse who spoke to Izzy about what was happening.”

Izzy stayed with neighbours while her mum spent a couple of days at Gloucester Royal Hospital.

“Where we live all the kids are in the same class so it was very quickly organised – we’re very lucky with our neighbours.”

Izzy was presented with a certificate at school for showing such bravery and has also been nominated for an award from the chief executive of the South Western Ambulance Service – and she was given a toy rabbit by her parents.

Mrs Thompson said: “She has had to be very sensible so she knows about emergency procedures but it means she has to be quite grown up for somebody who is five.”