A MUM has given thanks to a local GP she says saved her son’s life when he was struck down by meningitis.

Esta Mitchell was told by staff at Plymouth’s Derriford Hospital that her son Hayden, three, had reached them just in time, before he went into shock and possible cardiac arrest.

And Esta put it down to the quick-thinking, skill and knowledge of Dr Stephen Williams, from Norton Brook Medical Centre, Kingsbridge.

Last Wednesday, Esta and friend and neighbour Nathalie Lawman were sitting in the garden watching the children play, when Hayden began crying and complaining of a sore leg.

Assuming he had twisted his ankle, they thought nothing of it until bedtime, when Hayden started being sick. After taking his temperature, which was 104F, Esta and Nathalie called the emergency services.

A first responder came at once, followed by an ambulance. They checked him over, and told Esta to give him Calpol every two to three hours.

But in the morning, Hayden had a rash all over his body, so Esta rang Norton Brook and was put through to Dr Williams. He told her to bring Hayden down straightaway.

Seeing how ill the boy was, Dr Williams called an ambulance immediately.

Crucially, he was able to tell staff at Derriford exactly what to expect and administer the first of many doses of antibiotics before the ambulance arrived.

Upon arriva,l Hayden was rushed to intensive care where he was treated for meningococcal septicaemia and bacterial meningitis.

His body had just begun to go into shock, and the rash on his skin had started to turn black.

Esta and Hayden’s father stayed by his bedside until Sunday evening, when he was allowed to return to his home in Kingsbridge.

Esta said: ‘I’m really grateful to Dr Williams. In the hospital they said that they caught it just at the right time, before he went into shock.

‘That’s when little ones can sometimes die, as it leads to cardiac arrest.’

Now she is keen to warn other mums of the dangers of meningitis.

She said: ‘I never knew this, but the first symptom is actually joint pain, which was why Hayden was limping. They get joint pain first, then a temperature, fever and vomiting, then the rash is the last thing.

‘I would say, if they’ve got pain in the arms and legs, don’t just assume they’ve hurt themselves.

‘The rash was so distinctive as well. He’s had lots of rashes before, but this looked totally different.’

Esta had to take Hayden back to Derriford on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for more medicine, given intravenously, and tests to make sure there was no long term damage.

She said that the youngster does understand that he has to go, but does not like it: ‘He does know what’s going on. He said “Mummy I don’t want to go back there, they hurt me”.’