THE dramatic race to save the life of a Canvey teenager is to feature on TV tonight.

Diabetic Thomas Morris, 15, fell into a coma after his blood sugar levels dropped to dangerously low levels.

He was rushed to Southend Hospital, but after almost 12 hours and with no sign of an improvement in his condition, doctors decided he needed to go to Great Ormond Street Hospital, in London, for specialist care.

Great Ormond Street’s Children’s Acute Transport Service team took him to the hospital.

Mum Helen Stollery said: “Before we left Southend, the doctors told me they didn’t know whether he was going to make it, and if he did, because he had been unconscious for such a long time, it was likely he would have brain damage.

“But the transport team were absolutely fantastic. They talked to me all the way through and told me what was happening. I have never got to London so quickly.”

Thomas, a pupil at Castle View School, on Canvey, remained in a coma in Great Ormond Street’s intensive care ward for four days.

Ms Stollery, 43, of Brand-enburg Road, Canvey, said: “It was horrendous. The doctors said he was showing signs of brain damage.”

But miraculously, Thomas made a full recovery.

His story will feature on Children’s Emergency, a documentary series following the work of the highly-specialised Children’s Acute Transport Service team.

Operating round the clock, it is a mobile paediatric intensive care unit with all the associated skills and high-tech equipment necessary.

They are called in when sick youngsters need transporting to specialist hospitals.

Ms Stollery was approached by the film crew following the team to ask if they had permission to show the incident.

She said: “The final decision to show the programme was left to Thomas and he agreed it would help raise awareness.”

Thomas was first diagnosed with the condition when he was three and has to inject insulin regularly to keep his blood sugar levels steady.

Doctors are still investigating why he had the attack.

Ms Stollery added: “I am not looking forward to watching the programme. It is not an experience I want to relive.”

* Children’s Emergency will be shown on BBC1, tonight, at 10.35pm.