MIRACLE toddler Shay Waldie is fighting fit after a dramatic roadside rescue by an off-duty NEAS nurse saved his life.

Shay was travelling in the back seat of his family's car when his mum Danielle noticed he had stopped breathing.

But NEAS Clinical Supervisor Fiona Thompson was able to save the stricken toddler's life after she spotted Danielle desperately crying for help.

As the family's car screeched to a halt at Newburn Riverside, Newcastle, Fiona saw Danielle and jumped into action, bringing Shay back to life twice.

Today his parents John, 28, and Danielle, 20, say they owe a lifetime of gratitude to the clinical supervisor at the North East Ambulance Service for saving their little boy's life.

Angel

Full-time dad John said: "I've never been so scared in all my life. I thought he was going to die. We got Shay out of the car and I remember looking up and just praying he was going to be OK then Fiona came out of nowhere.

"She was like an angel. It was a miracle and I can't thank her enough. She saved his life."

The family were on their way to Danielle's sister house in Blaydon, Gateshead, when Danielle noticed Shay was fitting on the back seat and the family lifted him out of the car.

But as the child lay helpless on the side of the road Fiona abandoned her car with the engine still running and began CPR to bring him back to life.

Shay started to breathe again but Fiona had to resume with CPR when he took a turn for the worse.

Shay was taken to Ward 2 of Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary before being transferred to the intensive care unit after contracting streptococcal septicaemia toxic shock.

His parents were told to brace themselves for the worst as medics gave tiny Shay a 20% chance of survival.

John said: "Seeing your child like that is worst thing a parent has to go through. I wouldn't wish it on anybody. He means everything to us and I don't know what I would have done if I lost him. He brings the best out in us."

Little miracle

After spending two weeks in hospital Shay has now returned to his home in Ingoe Street, Lemington. John said: "We are just thinking about spending Christmas day together. Even if we wake up with nothing on Christmas morning it doesn't matter because we still have our little boy.

"He has been through so much. He's our little miracle and a little fighter."

Fiona had been heading into work to start her shift in Newburn when Shay took poorly last month. She said: "He's a lucky little boy as I had changed my site to Newburn from Hebburn and this was an overtime shift.

"I must have conducted hundreds of resuscitations in my career through ITU and neo-natal nursing but have always had the benefit of back-up and equipment."