A MOTHER has thanked paramedics who rushed her dangerously-ill daughter to hospital.

Sam Cox from Blackbird Leys, Oxford, took her five-year-old daughter Sian Sutherland to the doctors after she complained of bad pain, with school staff suspecting appendicitis.

Miss Cox, 26, said she was sent home and was told it was a viral infection.

But her condition worsened and days later Sian developed a rash over her whole body so Miss Cox took her back.

She said doctors called 999 and she was rushed to the John Radcliffe Hospital where she was diagnosed with pneumonia, blood poisoning, group A streptococcus and scarlet fever.

Miss Cox has thanked the paramedics who took her to the hospital as they went “beyond the call of duty”.

The family has been reunited with paramedic Keith Packwood and emergency care assistant Jac Hilton, who rushed them to the JR on March 31.

The pair also visited Sian in hospital while she was receiving expert care and left an Easter egg.

Miss Cox, who has three other children – Miley, three, and 10-month-old twins Lacey and Leo, said: “Those few days when Sian’s health was getting worse were awful.

“As any mother would tell you, it was all a blur for me when something that bad is happening to your little girl.

“I know it’s their job, but I owe them my daughter’s life.

“I also want to thank all the staff at the hospital for being amazing.”

The ambulance trust said Sian’s condition had been “life-threatening”.

Mr Packwood said: “When we got to the surgery in Oxford we could see the situation was really bad. I’ve never seen such a poorly girl.”

After arriving at the hospital Sian was sedated and kept unconscious for the next three days.

It took her several weeks to recover, with Miss Cox’s dad Andy and step-mum Angie both supporting her throughout.

They noticed the Easter egg left for Sian when visiting her one day and were told by the ward team it had been dropped off by two paramedics who had come to see how Sian was doing.

Miss Cox said: “I really wanted to meet up with Keith and Jac before that Easter egg appeared and that just made it even more urgent for me to do so.”

Mr Packwood and Mr Hilton were reunited with Sian and her mum earlier this month at their home. They let Sian, who is now back at Orchard Meadow Primary School, sit in their rapid response vehicle.

Miss Cox gave them a crate of beer as a token of her gratitude.