A HAMPSHIRE mum has praised the actions of her quick thinking neighbour who she says saved her little girl's life.

Michelle Preston believes two-year-old toddler Demi would have died without the level-headed actions of Clare Craske, who turned a crisis into a rescue.

The drama unfolded when toddler Demi suffered a fit at her home. In a panic, Michelle raced the unconscious tot to Clare's house two doors away in Frost Lane, Hythe.

Michelle, 22, recalled: "Demi hadn't been feeling well. She had been sick in the night and I had sat up with her. I thought I would get an appointment at the doctor's but they couldn't see her until later.

"Then her eyes started to roll and I could tell something was very wrong. I just picked her up and ran to my friend's house.

"Demi had a fit which lasted about eight minutes. I was just hysterical and Clare did everything. She rang 999 and put Demi in the recovery position.

"Then she had to clear her airways which were blocked because she had been sick and Clare carried on resuscitating her.

"Demi had come round by the time the ambulance arrived. She had been purple and blue and when I first got to Clare's house. She thought I was handing her a dead baby."

Demi was then rushed by ambulance to Southampton General Hospital and tests were carried out.

"They couldn't find anything wrong when she was in hospital and they think it was due to her very high temperature," said Michelle.

It was a worrying time for Michelle's husband Darren, a soldier at Marchwood Sea Mounting Centre.

"He got the message that his little girl had been taken to hospital and he went first to Hythe Hospital and then to the Princess Anne Hospital before he caught up with us in A&E at the General," said Michelle.

"I am just so grateful. No card can tell someone how grateful you are when they have done something like that.

"Clare has saved my little girl's life and I'll be grateful to her for the rest of my life. She doesn't give herself credit, but she's a lovely person with a heart of gold."

Little Demi is now home from hospital and well and truly on the mend after the ordeal. It could all have been so different had Mrs Craske not done all the right things

Clare, 32, who has a six-year-old daughter Nicole and 21-month-old adopted son Dylan will never forget the sound of Michelle desperately knocking on her door.

"I heard this bang, bang, bang on the door and I could hear Michelle screaming: 'She's dead, She's dead'.

"Demi was purple and she wasn't breathing. But I told myself: 'I'm not going to lose her'.

"I was a childminder and I went on the first aid course. One thing I learned was that you need to keep the airways clear.

"Her airways were blocked where she had been sick and I had to use my fingers to clear them. Then I gave her mouth to mouth and it was the most fantastic feeling when I realised she was breathing again. I was so relieved.

"She's a lovely little girl and it's great to see her running around again. Her mum has been so grateful and I've had presents, flowers, cards. But I'm just glad Demi is all right.

"I hope I'm never in that sort of situation again, but if I was, I'd do exactly the same. Anybody would."