A 16-year-old young carer from Wiltshire who saved his mother’s life with CPR has been honoured after meeting the Princess Royal in London.

Dylan Murphy, from Dilton Marsh, was training as a cadet with St John Ambulance in Westbury, when he was forced to put his skills into action.

He was in his bedroom in August, when his mother Trudi, 56, collapsed downstairs after a mix-up with her medication.

Dylan, who is her registered carer as she has several autoimmune conditions – including multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia - discovered his mother unconscious and face down on the floor.

Having only started his training in April, he knew to turn his mother over, called 999 and began performing CPR.

The ambulance crew who arrived to take over told Ms Murphy that Dylan, who was 15 at the time, had saved her life.

Dylan (right) with his mother Trudi (left). Dylan (right) with his mother Trudi (left). (Image: Trudi Murphy/PA)

On Wednesday, Dylan was honoured along with other young lifesavers at the St John Ambulance’s annual Young Achievers awards, which Princess Anne attended, at Clerkenwell in London.

“I was upstairs in my room and heard the stairlift beeping, it only beeps if someone has knocked it,” Dylan told the PA news agency.

“I went downstairs to find out what was going on and I found her (his mother) flat down on the floor.

“I checked if she was okay and turned her over but realised she was unconscious.

“I took her phone and rang 999, and they told me to check her breathing and start doing CPR.

“I can’t explain how scared I was and how stressful it was knowing that I might not ever be able to see or speak to my mum again.  

“It was truly the most terrifying thing I’ve ever experienced, and without St John I would have no clue what I was doing.”

Trudi Murphy said she and Dylan have always had a close relationship.Trudi Murphy said she and Dylan have always had a close relationship. (Image: Trudi Murphy/PA)

Dylan is homeschooled due to having a rare condition called mastocytosis which causes an increased risk of developing a severe and life-threatening allergic reaction.

He added: “I believe without St John, my mum wouldn’t be here anymore. They gave me the confidence to act in the face of danger. 

“I don’t know what I would have done without them, they helped me save my mum and also gain friends.”

Trudi said: “Once I realised what Dylan had done, I just remember bursting into tears and crying like mad.

“I’ve always been a single parent with him, which is why our relationship is so close.

“I inject him with his epipens and he saved my life.”