A 12-year-old boy has been presented with a national award for helping his father who was having an epileptic fit.

Matthew Chandler was praised for his courage and calmness after he put his father, Barry, in the recovery position, called an ambulance and then calmed down his younger brother, David (10), who was distressed.

The Le Rocquier School student was presented with the Young First Aider Recognition Certificate by St John Ambulance and Jersey Bailiwick director, Nigel Truscott, at a school assembly in September.

The presentation was made in front of a year group of 167 pupils and Matthew’s certificate was signed by St John Ambulance chief commander Roger Chatterdon.

Mr Chandler said: ‘As a parent, naturally you are very proud when your child wins anything, but because of the nature of what happened, I am really, really proud. Both boys go to St John Ambulance and David panicked a bit, but the fact that Matthew, at the age of 12, stayed calm is amazing. It made me very proud. He didn’t do it to win an award, he did it to make sure I was okay.’

Matthew’s mother, Dawn, added: ‘There was no other adult in the house when it happened and I was really proud when he first phoned me and said what had happened. When they were very young we had a code and when Matthew was three he could say ‘’Daddy funny’’ whenever Barry was not well. As Matthew got older, we taught him what to do and he is now a cadet in St John Ambulance.’

Mr Truscott said that Matthew had acted with courage and calmness. ‘He put his father in the recovery position and then phoned for the ambulance and explained what was going on,’ he said. ‘His younger brother was upset and he calmed him down. When the ambulance arrived, he handed over the medication. He had an air of absolute calmness and gave the correct information.’

• Picture: Barry Chandler with his sons Matthew (12) and David (10) Picture by Jon Guegan (00602462)