12‑Year‑Old Zac Howells Steers Mother’s Car to Safety on A40, Wins Pride of Britain Award

On a December night in 2023, the Howells family was driving on the A40 near Ebbw Vale.

The driver, Nicola Crump, lost consciousness after a sudden onset of symptoms. The car was still in drive, moving at about 60 miles per hour toward the dual carriageway. Within moments, the vehicle began to drift toward the central reservation.

Zac Howells, then 12, grabbed the steering wheel and guided the car into the barrier, using the reservation to slow the vehicle. He then switched off the engine and called 999, using the GPS for precise location.

Paramedics found Crump with dangerously low blood pressure and took her to the hospital for cardiology evaluation.

For his composure and quick thinking, Howells received the Child of Courage Award at the Pride of Britain Awards on October 19, 2024, held at Grosvenor House, London.