Essex schoolboy honoured with bravery award for helping his mum in medical emergency
Date: 22 December 2025An Essex junior school pupil has received a bravery award from the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) after staying calm under pressure and calling 999 when his mum fell seriously ill.
On the final day of term at South Green Junior School in Billericay, Ryan, 10, was presented with the award in front of his classmates and teachers by EEAST Chief Executive Neill Moloney.
The award was approved after EEAST learned of Ryan’s quick-thinking actions from his stepfather, Stuart Wilkinson, a paramedic based at Chelmsford Ambulance Station.
On 2 November 2025, Ryan’s mum, Kat Reader, woke up feeling extremely unwell at their home in Galleywood. Stuart had already left for work, leaving Ryan to act on his own initiative.
With no guidance, Ryan calmly dialled 999, requested an ambulance, and provided the call handler Sean Austin in the Chelmsford Emergency Operations Centre with all the vital details – confirming their address, describing Kat’s symptoms, and answering questions clearly and confidently.
Kat later said that without Ryan’s quick actions her condition could have worsened significantly.
She also highlighted how this moment reflected a positive transformation in Ryan since his recent ADHD diagnosis.
Kat said:
“I couldn’t be prouder of Ryan. He has struggled over the years to understand himself, but since receiving his ADHD diagnosis he has begun to better understand his emotions, behaviour, and strengths.
“The way he stayed calm under pressure when I fell ill shows remarkable maturity, clarity, and confidence.”
Neill Moloney added:
“We are delighted to present Ryan with this well-deserved bravery award. Recognising child callers is so important – not only to celebrate their courage but also to show their peers the value of knowing what to do in an emergency.
“It’s clear that without Ryan’s intervention, things could have been very different for Kat and she is rightly a very proud Mum.”
Sean Austin, a call handler based at Chelmsford Emergency Operations Centre, said:
“Ryan was brave, courageous and confident throughout. He was able to answer all questions and with clear answers for us to be able to put an emergency ambulance in place.
“In between all of this, Ryan was able to look after and comfort mum at the same time. Ryan should be more than proud of his actions on this day.”
