Jack Grealish paid tribute to Pride of Britain winners, saying: "Footballers are classed as heroes - but these are the real heroes." The England star, 31, admitted his 'legs were shaking' as he appeared on stage to surprise Child of Courage winner Zac Howells, who received a standing ovation after a film recounted how he saved his mum's life.
Teenager's quick thinking saved his mum
Zac, then 12, was being driven to a Christmas market in Warwickshire from their home in Ebbw Vale last December when his mum Nicola passed out. Travelling at 60mph on the A40 in Herefordshire, Zac grabbed the wheel, steered the car into the central reservation to stop it, turned off the engine and called 999.
Grealish said: "The whole night is so inspirational. I just said that I wouldn't have known what to do in that situation and yet he was just 12 years old and saved his mum. Footballers are classed as heroes but honestly, these are the real heroes. They do so much and it is only right that they get this recognition, that was really special."
A night to remember for Zac
Grealish invited Zac to be his guest at an Everton home game of the youngster's choice, joking: "He said he is going to bring his mates for the box and his mum will be in the stand! I told him that I will take him down onto the pitch and it is a lively stadium as well. I have played in front of crowds of 80,000, and I have never been as nervous as I was presenting the award. It is unreal because there was no one there asking me questions!"
Zac said: "I am just so happy, I did not think that I would enjoy it so much. I'm really into football so meeting the big football names like Jack and Jude Bellingham (who he met at Wembley) has been a big surprise. I realise now what I did saved my mum's life but I didn't at the time. I still don't know how I thought of it. This has been an amazing night. I could not have wished for any better."
Mum's gratitude
Zac described Jude Bellingham as 'the nicest person I have met' after Jude told him about his award at a special VIP trip to Wembley. Mum Nicola Crump came around after about seven minutes, by which time her son had everything under control. She said: "It must have been really frightening for him. He said he was screaming my name as the car was getting faster. He grabbed the steering wheel and started to bump the car off the barrier to slow it down. He literally saved our lives.....and how knows who else's lives."
Zac, now 13, is looking forward to taking his friends to an Everton game to meet Jack Grealish after a night to remember at Pride of Britain. The Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards airs on Thursday 22 October at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
