Brandon applied pressure to his mum’s bleeding head wound with a clean tea towel – while Lara called for help – and stayed with her until his dad James, 44, and an ambulance crew arrived, giving paramedics a detailed description of what had happened.

Now Brandon, who did the first aid course at Newminister Middle School in Morpeth, before Christmas, has been nominated by the St John Ambulance service for a national award which recognises young people who have used the training to help save a life in a real emergency.

The drama unfurled when Jacqueline, a legal secretary at a Morpeth solicitors’ firm, got up early at the family home in Pegswood, where she was recovering from a foot operation.

She was walking into the kitchen when she collapsed to the floor, suffering concussion and a gash to the head.

She was found by her children about 15 minutes later, lying in a pool of blood.

It was then that Brandon calmly utilised the training he had received on the St John Ambulance Northumbria first aid course.

Yesterday Jacqueline said: “My head was bleeding profusely and I was drifting in and out of consciousness.

If Brandon hadn’t been there, having done the St John Ambulance course and knowing exactly what to do, I could have died.

“I am so proud of him and I can’t speak about it without crying. I would love him to get recognition for what he has done, and I would urge any parent whose child is given the chance to take part in this wonderful course to seize the opportunity with both hands.

“These are skills which really can save a life, and which everyone should know.” James, a chef at Longhirst Hall near Morpeth, had left early for work on the day of the drama, leaving Brandon and Lara to cope alone when their mum collapsed and hit her head on the floor.

Jacqueline, who is diabetic, said: “I was aware of Lara’s voice and I felt the coldness of the floor.

“In my head I assumed I was dead and in a morgue. I was in pain and was sure I must have died. Lara called Brandon and pulled me onto the sofa.

“He came into the room and was so calm and immediately started talking to me, telling me what had happened and what he was about to do.

“I just wanted to go to sleep but obviously his training had taught him that because of my head injury that would be really dangerous, and to keep me awake. I didn’t realise at the time how brilliant my children were, but looking back they were amazing.

“There was a lot of blood and it was a very scary situation, and yet my son transformed into this calm young man talking to me and acting as if he were a trained doctor.

“All I have is a bump on my head and a scar. Without Brandon who knows if I would even be here.”

Brandon has been nominated for the national award by Peter Lane, schools’ liaison officer for St John Ambulance Northumbria.

He said: “Brandon behaved brilliantly and did exactly what he was trained to do.

“His story is a real indication of why first aid is so important and how it can potentially be the difference between life and death.”