'My son collapsed from heat stroke while running in the woods and three little words helped save his life

MUM URGES EVERYONE TO DOWNLOAD APP IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES

- BY ELEANOR FLEMING

THE mother of a 15-year-old boy who collapsed from heat stroke during a run in the woods and developed multi-organ failure has said an app 'helped save (her) son's life.

In July 2024, Sarah Coen's youngest son, Will, now 16, decided to join his brother George, now 22, on a 10km run in the nearby woods and since they are "sporty and healthy boys", Sarah did not think much of it.

However, approximately 6km into the run, in temperatures of around 20°C, Will started to feel "confused" and disorientated - and he soon collapsed and fell unconscious, with George calling Sarah to say she needed to phone 999 immediately.

Describing this as "one of the most terrifying moments of her life", Sarah called the emergency services, but since she did not know their exact location in the woods, and she had poor phone signal, they could not dispatch an ambulance straightaway.

Thankfully, George had downloaded the what3words app years earlier, which provides a simple way to communicate precise locations, and with this information she was able to direct the emergency services to her sons.

Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) was subsequently dispatched to the rescue, transporting Will to hospital, where it was discovered he had liver and kidney failure, caused by exertional heat stroke (EHS).

Sarah, who is now retired and lives in Lincolnshire, said that, without what3words, Will may not have survived, and she "cannot describe how grateful" she is for the medical care he received.

She told PA Real Life: "I just felt completely helpless. I'm glad that George was with him, but I was completely helpless, I didn't know where he was, I couldn't look after him. I just fell to pieces.

"I would urge and encourage anyone to download what3words - it helped save my son's life."