LITTLE Lewis Bamford has been hailed a hero after his quick-thinking in dialling an ambulance helped to save his baby sister's life.

The eight-year-old was being cared for by gran Janet Bamford when 15-month-old Hollie suddenly began to suffer a fit.

The baby, who had never suffered health problems before, fell unconscious for a full 40 minutes.

Lewis was asked by his gran to call 999, while she cared for the baby.

Luckily the youngster had memorised the family's new address in Tir yr Ysbyty, in Bynea, Llanelli, as they had just moved to the property. The cool-under-fire youngster was said to have been totally calm despite the drama.

His mum Amanda Bamford, aged 35, who only just returned from work as the ambulance was about to take her daughter to Morriston Hospital, said she was amazed at her son's actions.

She said: "My mother-in-law started to become concerned about Hollie without showing too much towards Lewis. She told him you need to phone 999 and ask for an ambulance.

"I have always told Lewis to learn his address in case he ever got lost.

"He was on the phone to the paramedics telling them 'I think my sister is having a fit, she's with my granny, can you come?'

"Lewis was on the phone to the ambulance telling them that he lived in Tir yr Ysbyty and that he would stand on the doorstep and wait for them."

She added: "I would have thought he may have fallen apart but he was calm.

"Lewis is such a proud brother and loves Hollie to bits.

"I am incredibly proud of him and I am so grateful - he's amazing."

She said she had bought Lewis lots of presents for his actions.

The first Mrs Bamford knew that her daughter fell ill was when the ambulance crew stopped her as she made her way to the house.

Her family had been unable to get hold of her as the sales advisor had been heading home from work.

Mrs Bamford's 36-year-old husband Ian, who is a production operator, was also in work at the time.

The incident happened at 5.30pm on February 2 and baby Hollie was only allowed home from Morriston Hospital last Sunday.

She added: "Hollie is absolutely perfect and had not been ill.

"I was on my way home and an ambulance was coming through so I just stopped and one of them asked if I was Amanda.

"I said 'yes' and they told me 'we have your baby.'

"They were trying to stabilise her in the back of the ambulance — I thought 'Oh my God this is it.'

"It was absolutely horrendous."

On arrival at Morriston Hospital, she had to undergo a brain scan because she was unconscious for such a long time.

Mrs Bamford added: "Normally when a child has a fit they are only unconscious for a couple of minutes but she was out for 40 minutes.

"The paramedics stayed for two and a half hours in Morriston Hospital to see if she was okay.

"The doctors asked all the grandparents to come in to see Hollie because they did not think she was going to pull through.

"Without the paramedics and the treatment she received in A&E she would not be here."

As a special thank you she visited Dr Kumar and staff at the high dependency unit, on the Oakwood Green Ward, and presented them with a number of gifts, including chocolates and thank-you cards.

elizabeth.perkins@swwmedia.co.uk