PARENTS have praised a quick-thinking nurse who saved their baby’s life.

Jon and Hannah Tiplady, of Thistledown Court, Basildon, took nine-week-old baby Jacob to Basildon Hospital’s A&E after NHS 111 and a GP diagnosed him with a cold.

But while waiting to be seen, Jacob’s eyes became glazed and his body began to shut down. A passing nurse recognised the signs of sepsis,adeadly infection, and rushed him straight into resuscitation.

It is believed Jacob developed sepsis as a result of an earlier urinary tract infection.

Jon said: “Everything suddenly went manic. The nurse smiled at us as she walked past, then asked to takealook at Jacob.

“Jacob had already been seen by nurses who thought it was a cold. She recognised the signs straight away and rushed him to the resuscitation unit. She later told us his body organs were beginning to shut down and that he had sepsis.

“There were moments when we didn’t think he’d make it.”

Hannah said the couple, both 28, feared Jacob would die and gave a heartfelt thank-you to the nurse. She said: “It all happened in an explosion. The nurse just swept him up and ran off with him and shouted for us to follow.

“It was then that we were not sure if he would make it. I cannot thank the nurse enough.”

The couple, who could not recall the nurse’s name, said action should have been taken earlier.

Jon said: “We felt reassured by a doctor and NHS 111 that it was just a cold. During the doctor’s appointment, Jacob’s skin was mottled like corned beef.

“But we didn’t rush to hospital – we even went home to collect some belongings. He was seen by nurses when we got there and they thought it was a cold too. The nurse who saved his life was surprised we had not been ordered an ambulance.

“This does raise questions about how Jacob got so bad without anyone noticing.”

A Basildon Hospital spokesman said: “When Jacob was brought into A&E, staff recognised his symptoms at an early stage, realised the urgency of the situation and acted quickly.

“We are pleased to hear that thanks to their prompt actions he has recovered well.”

Hannah stayed with Jacob overnight at Basildon Hospital where he recovered, last month.

She added: “He gave me a massive smile the next day and then I knew he was OK.”

When asked for a comment on behalf of the family’s GP surgery, NHS England did not respond.