'I can get married thanks to my daughter'

Alice has now been awarded with a certificate of bravery

A mother said she has her daughter to thank when she gets married after she helped to save her life when she had a sudden heart attack.

Rachel, from St Mary's Bay in Kent, was driving with her two children in April when she began to experience nausea, jaw pain and severe chest pain.

Realising something was seriously wrong, she managed to pull the car over in a lay-by in Ashford, where her 10-year-old daughter Alice called 999.

South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) praised Alice, who managed to remain calm and described her mum's symptoms to emergency services on the phone.

When paramedics arrived on the scene, they confirmed Rachel was having a "serious heart attack".

She was taken to William Harvey Hospital where surgeons discovered a blockage in a major artery.

Secamb said that thanks to the "courage" of Alice and ambulance colleagues, Rachel received the treatment she needed and was discharged four days later, returning home to her fiancé and two daughters.

'Difference between life and death'

Alice has now been awarded with a certificate of bravery from East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust.

Rachel said: "I am so proud of Alice and over the moon that she's been recognised for her bravery that day.

"Thanks to her, and the Secamb team, I'll now get to walk down the aisle and marry my partner of 19 years."

Paramedic Rachel Lees, who helped to give treatment, added: "It really was a miracle that Alice was in the car with her mum that day and that she knew exactly what to do.

"Her quick thinking really was the difference between life and death."