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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Charlotte Hadfield

Kind stranger steps in after LFC fan, 11, saves brother's life

A kind stranger stepped in after hearing how a Liverpool fan helped to save his brother's life.

Eleven-year-old Alfie Eaton, from Ellesmere Port, called for help after his brother James, 14, was found unresponsive in bed by his mum Georgia, who collapsed in shock. Georgia said Alfie, who has ADHD, "took full control" of the situation by speaking to paramedics, letting them into the house and calling his nan for help.

After reading the heroic schoolboy's story in the ECHO, John Mawdsley came forward to offer Alfie a gift card for his bravery on behalf of his company Survitec. John said the company, which is a survival technology solutions provider, opened a branch in Ellesmere Port last year and was keen to congratulate Alfie for his "amazing" actions.

READ MORE: Paramedics fought in vain to save young woman found shot in garden

Mum Georgia, 36, said she was "overwhelmed" at the gesture and can't thank the company enough for coming forward. She said: "It's really overwhelming that there's people who would do something incredible for a young boy.

"Alfie doesn't ask for anything so for someone to put forward a gift for a young boy after what he did that day, it blows me away."

James Eaton was found unresponsive in bed by his mum Georgia (Family handout)

In a previous interview with the ECHO, Georgia said: "The way I found James in bed that morning unresponsive, he was black and blue. His eyes were white, he had blood coming out of his mouth and his lips were blue. I thought he was gone. I collapsed to the floor and then Alfie, my other son, he was ten at the time, he my got mobile phone.

"He came in the room, he screamed because he thought his brother was dead. I said 'please go and get my mobile phone so I can get an ambulance.' I was trying to pick myself up. When I called 999 Alfie was on the phone to them, he called his nan for help.

"My mum came straight here from work and then Alfie let the paramedics in. Alfie took full control despite it being his brother and seeing his mum in distress, he's so heroic. I don't think I could even have done that."

James Eaton, 14, pictured right with his 11-year-old brother Alfie (Ronald McDonald House Charities UK)

James, who has had speech and mobility problems from a young age, was taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital where doctors discovered he was suffering from a collapsed lung, a major chest infection and sepsis. He was transferred to Alder Hey Children's Hospital and admitted to the intensive care unit where he stayed for the next four weeks.

James nearly died several times and at one point his heart even stopped after he was moved to the high dependency unit. After months in hospital James was diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis, a rare neurological condition causing inflammation of the brain.

But Georgia said nobody could understand why he was so poorly and it was only due to his strength that he "pulled through time and time again". She said: "As a mum you're frightened, you're so scared of not being able to take your child home from that hospital."

James has now returned home and been reunited with his family after eight months in hospital (Family handout)

Georgia stayed at Alder Hey's Ronald McDonald House while James remained in the hospital and said she "can't thank them enough" for their support. Fast forward eight months and James is starting to regain some of his speech and movement with intensive rehabilitation and he has now returned home with his family.

Georgia added: "When you look at what he's been through to the point of being able to bring him home, he is a miracle boy. He is building his strength back up which is amazing to see.

"He may be different to how he was before, but through his strength and determination he is trying his best to be the boy he used to be."

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