Birmingham mobile phone tycoon John Caudwell's son hailed a hero

Dec 10 2009 By Fionnuala Bourke

THE five-year-old son of Birmingham-born mobile phone tycoon John Caudwell has been honoured for saving his grandad’s life after he fell down a well during a mountain walk.

Little Jacobi was walking along Bodafon Mountain in Anglesey with grandad Dr John Worthington when the 60 year-old fell into a disused well, hidden by overgrown bushes.

The retired GP, who lives in the area, broke his lower left leg and ankle, leaving him unable to walk or crawl to get help.

Ironically neither John nor Jacobi had a mobile phone with them to call for help.

But courageous Jacobi, showing some of his billionaire dad’s determination, trekked for a mile across a heath, over walls and over a hill to reach someone to help.

Dr Worthington was airlifted to hospital with Jacobi said to have remained calm and brave throughout.

“He was very brave,” Dr Worthington said.

“He is bright, thoughtful and mature for his years.”

Jacobi’s dad John Caudwell, 56, is one of the richest men in the country thanks to his mobile phone business, which he set up while working as a second-hand car salesman in Stoke-on-Trent, where he was raised.

Jacobi’s courage was honoured in a sparkling ceremony for the Women’s Own Children of Courage Awards, held in London yesterday.

And he wasn’t the only courageous Midland child to win an award.

Joining him was McAyla Johnston, from Worcester.

The plucky 12 year-old had to re-learn how to walk, read, write, dress, eat and drink after suffering horrific brain injuries in a road smash while on her way to school.

She was just starting high school on the day of the accident and had kissed mum Terri goodbye when she went off with her friends. Her parents were told her chances of recovery were slim after she was airlifted to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

But she pulled through after two weeks of being kept alive by machines.

And now, much to the astonishment of medics, she can walk with the aid of a stick and is back at school part-time.

McAyla also successfully campaigned for a pedestrian crossing to be installed at the spot where she was knocked down.

She said: “I don’t want any of my friends or their families to go through what I have been through. There should always be a safe place for people to cross busy roads.”