A BOY is to be honoured for saving his father's life after he collapsed at home.

Eleven-year-old Barry Skeffington dashed to his school after discovering his dad Paul unconscious following an epileptic fit.

Barry's family and paramedics believe that without the youngster's quick-thinking and calmness, his dad would not have survived.

Paul (33), who developed epilepsy two years ago due to an abscess on the brain, said proudly: "I wouldn't be here without Barry.

"He saved my life. We're very close and I'm very proud of him."

Barry's ordeal began when he woke up late for school and realised his dad had not been in to get him up as usual.

The youngster searched their flat in Calder Crescent, Whitefield, and found his dad in his bedroom.

Barry said: "I knocked on the door a few times but there was no answer, so I went in and saw Dad on the bed. I thought he was asleep at first, but a stool had been knocked over and there was blood around his mouth. I realised he needed help and looked for his mobile phone but couldn't find it."

Since the start of Paul's illness, which saw him in a coma for three weeks, Barry had been made aware of what to do in an emergency. He had often phoned for help when Paul had suffered a bad fit. In an extreme emergency, he knew to raise the alarm with his grandad Martin Skeffington, who lives in Roch Crescent.

Keeping calm, Barry ran the 200 metres to Martin's home but could not rouse him as he had just completed a 16-hour night shift.

So he sprinted across the road to Mersey Drive Primary School, where he is a pupil, and told the teachers his dad was not well.

Barry continued: "I told Miss that my dad's mouth was bleeding and she came with me to the flat and got a neighbour to call an ambulance. I was worried a bit about dad but I had seen him have a fit before."

Paul, who used to be a fork-lift trucker before his illness, was rushed to hospital where he was in intensive care for two weeks.

When he came round there were emotional scenes around his hospital bed.

Grandad Martin said: "Paul was crying, I was crying and all the nurses were crying. When Paul was ill two years ago we thought he wouldn't make it and it was exactly two years to the day that he took ill again. It turned out to have been triggered by pneumonia and a brain virus. Barry saved his life. He's his right hand man."

Deputy headteacher Catherine Clayton-Grady, who Barry alerted, said: "Barry was fantastic throughout. He even gathered together all of his dad's medication to have ready to give to the ambulance crew when they arrived."

GMAS chief executive John Burnside said: "Barry's response to what must have been an extremely frightening situation is incredible for such a young child.

"His calm and sensible response undoubtedly saved his father's life. He is a very brave young man and his family, friends and school should all be extremely proud of him."