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barbsy · Super Member Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 570

'Superhero' autistic boy, 9, takes the wheel at 70mph after mum blacks out
Last updated at 12:32pm on 30th January 2008

Comments (21)

A nine-year-old autistic "superhero" schoolboy grabbed the wheel of his mother's car when she blacked out at 70mph and saved them from a potentially fatal pile-up.

Jonathan Anderson bravely took over the controls of the car as they were driving along a busy road in rush-hour traffic.

Jonathan, who suffers from Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, stretched over and took hold of the steering wheel.

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Jonathan Anderson has been hailed a 'superhero' after he grabbed the wheel when his mother Marion blacked out in the car

The brave young boy struggled to get the fast moving car under control and twice weaved across three lanes of traffic.

Luckily, Jonathan stayed calm and brought the car to a standstill on the A38, Plymouth, using the handbrake.

Emergency services praised his quick thinking, and said Jonathan, his mum and others might have died had it not been for his actions.

The youngster is to be presented with a bravery certificate.

Jonathan's proud mother Marion Anderson, 34, said: "He's my little superhero.

"The last thing I remember is driving over the flyover at Marsh Mills to take Jonathan to school in Plympton.

"I must have passed out, because the next thing I saw was a paramedic fitting a brace around my neck.

"I just couldn't believe it when I was told what had happened and what Jonathan had done."

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The scene of Jonathan's brave act

Eyewitnesses say the car in the inside lane, tracked to the left before sharply veering to the right, crossing all three lanes and hitting the central barrier.

The Toyota Avensis then crossed all three lanes again, travelling three or four metres up the bank, before hitting a tree and stopping.

Jonathan, a pupil at Longcause Community Special School, admitted he was scared.

He said: "Mummy passed out so I held the steering wheel, pulled the handbrake and put the hazard lights on.

"The car stopped and the windscreen smashed.

"It was scary because I've never driven a car before." Amazingly, both Marion and Jonathan escaped uninjured.

Jonathan's stepdad, David Fordy, said he was looking forward to Marion being released from Derriford Hospital so the family could be together at home in Peverell.

"It's been quite an emotional time," he said.

"We'd like to thank the emergency services for everything they've done."

Marion is still in Derriford Hospital and currently having scans to determine the cause of the blackout she suffered.

Paramedics Pete Holden and Ray MacFadden were despatched to the incident from Derriford Ambulance station.

Pete said yesterday: "We were incredibly impressed with little Jonathan's brave actions to save his mother's life.

"As soon as he saw his mother start to struggle with her breathing and lose consciousness he grabbed the car's handbrake and pulled it up while taking hold of the steering wheel to guide the car to the side of the verge and out of harm's way of other traffic.

"It must have been a very frightening experience, but his level head and quick thinking prevented a much more serious accident that could have been potentially life-threatening for both mum and son, as well as other road users.

"The control centre informed us that a caller had reported Marion had an underactive thyroid which resulted in problems with breathing, and therefore she lost consciousness while driving.

"We're really pleased that mum and son weren't seriously injured in the accident, and there is a happy ending to this story; so often this isn't the case for busy ambulance crews who attend road traffic accidents."

Lynne Paramor, head of communications at the South Western Ambulance Service, said Jonathan would be sent a special 'bravery certificate' and goodie bag as a gesture of goodwill.

"It will recognise his quick thinking and life-saving actions," she added.

"We want to say a big thank-you to Jonathan for being so brave and keeping calm."

Pc Sam Pullen, of the Plymouth Traffic Unit, said she was in no doubt that Jonathan saved his and his mother's life.

"What could have been an extremely tragic accident has been resolved by this nine-year-old boy," Pc Pullen said.

"When his mother passed out Jonathan screamed at her to wake up and apply the brakes before he grabbed the steering wheel, guided the vehicle and applied the handbrake.

"He saved a potential disaster from taking place and he certainly deserves the praise.

"Not many boys of his age would think to grab the controls and rectify the situation.

"He's a hero. He saved his and his mother's lives." Architect Robbie Brown was two cars behind Marion and Jonathan on his way to work in Totnes when the incident happened ahead of him.

"It was quite a shocking sight to see and I'm amazed no one was seriously hurt, given that the car swerved across the road twice," said Robbie, who lives in Plyouth's North Hill.

"It could have easily been much worse," he said.

"I didn't know what to think, but I pulled over and helped to wave traffic around the incident."

The incident on Monday morning close one lane of the Exeter-bound A38 for several hours while accident investigators checked over the scene

jonnysmum · Joined: 08 Apr 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Devon, UK

Hi All,

I hope I'm responding to this article in the right place...lol.

I have just joined your Forum and found you whilst doing a search on the newspaper articles regarding our Accident on Monday 28th Jan 08.

My name is Marion, my little boy is Jonathan who saved our lives during our car accident when I blacked out.

It really amazes me how the press fabricate stories and add it sentences just to make their story look long

The truth is that after having tests by the Neurologist - he has said I had a "Seizure" (first time ever)! As per the newspaper who said I have an underactive thyroid which causes breathing problems - and supposedly some of the papers said this is why I pased out - this is extremely far from the truth! They even went as far as saying they got this info from a caller and the emergency services. Well at Jonathans Awards Ceremony two weeks ago - the Paramedics who saw to me at the scene of my accident - said that the Journalists did not contact them and they know for a fact that it had nothing to do with an underactive thyroid.

My point for posting this reply - it is very insulting when the press choose to fabricate parts of a very serious article and especially when we could have died. I have spoken to them about this - but I think they are so used to doing this to people - they were very blase' about it. There were also alot of VERY cruel and insulting comments posted on the online Newspaper articles by readers. Some people truelly do not think before the comment and actually have no idea of the True facts behind my accident!

My little boy Jonathan does have Aspergers, Social Communication Disorder and Speech & Lang disorder. He is very shaken from the accident and scared to go in a car now with my Fiance' - whether we are doing 25mph or 60mph. Shame poor boy - must have been very traumatic for him to go through that. He truelly is a miracle and cannot believe how clever he was to try and control the car. We have been to the "Gold Star Awards" ceremony on 25th March - which was very touching and an honour to be there. Jonathan was very overwhelmed and found the attention, crowds and noise to much. We were lucky that one of his teachers came with and she helped out with him - as we had to take it in turns to take him for some time out away from it all. Jonathan recieved a beautiful Trophy made of Shimanksy Crystal and a cheque to put into his bank account.

I'm so proud of my boy and as I type this he has just shouted down the stairs to me "I love you Mum" - bless he is so caring

Thank you for posting our story and showing an interest. I look forward to meeting peeps on the forum via the threads.

regards
Maz
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Maz

jonnysmum · Joined: 08 Apr 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Devon, UK

pixie · Site Admin Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Posts: 1851

Thanks for letting us know about you and your wonderful son.

I think the press always go to town with stories like this and often will hurt people with their sensationalisation of events.

Jonathan was very brave and obviously saved your lives with his actions.

I hope he recovers from his fear of going in cars but it may well take a long time to overcome these fears after such a traumatic event.

He sounds like a lovely young man and so caring. xx
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charles47 · Jr. Member Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 46

One of the reasons I don't believe press articles is because of stories like this. A favourite story I remember is about Sir Cliff Richard. At the time when there was speculation about Cher having plastic surgery, Sir Cliff was asked for his opinion: his answer was something like "If I thought I'd look as good as Cher I'd think about plastic surgery myself."

The headline was "Cliff wants to look like Cher" with a photo of his head on Cher's body....

jonnysmum · Joined: 08 Apr 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Devon, UK

pixie · Site Admin Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Posts: 1851

Well done Jonathan, you are a star.

I think Charles meant that he doesn't belive everything he reads in the press, and rightly so because more often than not they don't get the whole story right, as has been proved by your story.

I hope you find the cause of your seizure, very scary thing to happen, but while driving............. doesn't bear thinking about what the outcome could have been if Jonathan hadn't acted so bravely.
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charles47 · Jr. Member Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 46

Sorry if I didn't make myself clear, jonnysmum.

Pixie is right: I don't trust the press to get a story right - they sensationalise the slightest thing. I've been on the receiving end of some of that in the distant past. The Cliff Richard thing was merely an illustration of how the press can get out of hand.

In your case I cannot understand why they had to fabricate part of the story when it was sensational enough simply with the facts as you told us!

Your son is a star - that's the real story!