A HEROIC 10-year-old boy waded across a river to help ambulance crews save a stricken patient.

Harry Gregory, from Battenhall, Worcester, volunteered to help two helicopter teams in a dramatic rescue operation while holidaying in Northumbria.

Harry, his mother Georgia, 40, sister Alexi, seven and step-dad David Middles, 48, raised the alarm after the woman collapsed under a remote viaduct while cycling with her daughter.

The family were stopped by a tearful girl who said her mother had suffered a fit.

An air ambulance and RAF helicopter were sent to the scene at Lambley viaduct, near Haltwhistle.

Two paramedics from the air ambulance landed underneath the viaduct on a gravel bank by the side of the River Tyne.

They waded across the water themselves to reach the woman and began emergency treatment.

They realised they needed oxygen equipment from their helicopter but neither were able to leave the woman's side.

So Harry stepped forward and said he would walk across the river to the helicopter.

Georgia watched from the bridge with her heart in her mouth as he slowly waded through the chest-deep water.

He managed to find the life-saving equipment and struggled back through the water, holding it above his head.

The oxygen mask was placed over the woman's face and only then was she stable enough to be winched into the RAF helicopter.

Georgia, a sales agent, said: "I think Harry was incredibly brave. It was a remarkable thing to do.

"We first realised something was wrong when a little girl of around 12 ran up and said her mother had collapsed.

"We had been sitting by the riverside and we jumped up and ran over to her.

"She was unconscious and David called the ambulance on his mobile phone.

"Within a few minutes the ambulance had arrived and landed on a gravel bank because it couldn't get any closer.

"The paramedics were treating the patient and realised they needed some equipment.

"Harry volunteered to help and was in the river before I realised what was happening.

"I looked down from the bridge and thought 'what on earth is he doing?'"

"He was half wading and half swimming to the helicopter and then brought this piece of equipment back again.

"It was a considerable weight and he struggled to get it back across but he managed.

"He played a big part in the rescue and I felt extremely proud of him. He did a wonderful job."

Harry said: "The current was strong but I didn't have time to think if I was frightened or not - I just did it."

Paramedics were full of praise for heroic Harry yesterday.

Tim McDonald, one of the crew involved, said: "I was treating the patient and realised I needed the oxygen equipment.

"We didn't want to leave the patient and were discussing how to go about getting it.

"Harry stepped forward and said he would do it.

"We kept a close eye on him as he waded across the river and back. It was really very impressive.

"He is a hero and played a very important part in the rescue of this lady, who has made a full recovery."