Maitham's story

Thirteen-year-old Maitham Ali is a member of the London Polish Cadets in Ealing, London. He joined St John Ambulance as a Badger when he was nine. Maitham's older sister, Judy, was interested in a career in medicine, and when their mum, Raghad, came across St John Ambulance, she decided to enrol them both.

Maitham was at home in West London when his two-day-old brother, Mohammad-Jawad, started choking on his own sick and turned blue.

Maitham remembers: "I was in my room upstairs when I heard a commotion downstairs. I heard my mum and grandmother panicking, so I came downstairs to see them holding my baby brother and they looked very worried. I asked them, 'What's going on?' and my dad told me that he was choking. Mohammad-Jawad was opening his mouth as if he was trying to take a breath, but he wasn't making any noise.

I went up to my mum and told her to rest him on her arm, belly first and supporting his head with her hand, and give him back blows. Not too hard, but hard enough to dislodge anything in the airway.

After two back blows, Mohammad-Jawad started crying, but my mum was still worried, so I reassured her that because he was crying, it meant that his airways were open."

Raghad: "The colour had gone from his face and his lips were turning blue. I was so terrified we were going to lose him. I didn’t know what to do. I had had no first aid training, so I tried to suck Mohammad-Jawad's mouth and nose to remove the blockage, but the doctor told me later at the hospital that that wasn't the right thing to do.

Then Maitham was so calm and steady. I couldn't believe it was Maitham talking. He was telling me what to do, making sure I stayed calm.

The colour came back and my baby was breathing again. It's all down to Maitham's extensive knowledge which he learned with St John.”

Maitham: "My dad didn't know what to do, so I told him to call an ambulance. The paramedics came and they checked Mohammad-Jawad and took him to the hospital to make sure everything was okay."

"Maitham was so calm and steady," says Raghad. "I couldn't believe it was Maitham talking. He was telling me what to do, making sure I stayed calm and making sure we got the ambulance called."

Raghad: "I had had no first aid training, so I was sucking Mohammad-Jawad's mouth and nose to remove the blockage, but the doctor told me later at the hospital that that wasn't the right thing to do. I absolutely plan to do first aid training after what happened. It's very important to know what to do in an emergency."

Raghad: "Before St John, Maitham wasn't thinking of medicine as a profession at all. He was thinking he wanted to work in palaeontology or archaeology. Now, because of St John, his first choice is medicine."

Maitham said: "I never expected to be in a situation like this so soon after my training. It's really helpful to know these skills."

One week after the incident, Maitham successfully completed and passed his Community First Aid course with St John Ambulance.

Maitham's unit leader, Tom Canavan, says: 'My first reaction to Maitham's actions was one of shock, quickly followed by relief when I learned that baby Mohammad-Jawad was alright. As the reality of what happened sank in, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride in Maitham and the actions he had taken.

While I was amazed by what he had done, I can't say I was entirely surprised. When it comes to helping others, Maitham has always shown compassion, confidence and a willingness to step forward. Through his time as a St John Ambulance Cadet, he has developed strong first aid skills, but more importantly, he has developed the courage to use them when it really matters.

In an emergency, many people can freeze or doubt themselves, but Maitham remained calm, recognised that his mum, dad and baby Mohammad-Jawad needed help and put his training into action. That takes maturity, bravery and self-belief beyond his years.

What makes me most proud is that he didn't act for recognition or praise, he acted because his family needed help. His actions demonstrate exactly why first aid is such a vital life skill and show the positive impact that young people can have in their communities when they are given the confidence and training to step forward.'

Tom Canavan: 'The message I'd like people to take away from Maitham's story is that you're never too young to learn lifesaving skills. A few minutes spent learning how to help someone who is choking, or a few hours learning CPR, how to use an AED, or how to respond to a medical emergency, could one day make the difference between life and death.

Maitham's actions show that young people are capable of making an incredible difference when they have the knowledge and confidence to act. In a critical moment, he recognised his family needed help and put his training into practice. That's a powerful reminder that first aid isn't just for healthcare professionals, it's a skill that anyone can learn.

If this story encourages even one person to take a first aid course or refresh their skills, then that's a fantastic outcome. You never know when you might be called upon to help, and a little training can go a very long way.'

Raghad observed that from the moment Maitham joined St John Ambulance, Maitham threw himself into learning first aid. Before joining, he often struggled to focus and had little interest in sitting down with a pen and paper. But something changed when he discovered first aid.

Raghad said: "He would ask for a notebook and pen so he could write down all the information."

Judy, Maitham's sister, is now in her first year of medical school.

A moment of panic. A moment of courage.