A mum has hailed her teenage son a hero after he saved his dad’s life following an horrific machinery accident.

Nigel Kelly was using a digger on his land at St John’s when he got caught up in its rotating drill attachment, which nearly ripped his foot right off.

Fortunately, his son Jacob, who turned 15 in November, was on hand to administer first aid. He then drove his dad’s Jeep across the field to the main road to flag down help.

An inquiry by the Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate has been launched into the accident.

Jacob’s mum Kimberley Parker - who is Mr Kelly’s ex - said her son has been nominated for a Chief Constable’s award for his bravery.

She said: ’I’m extremely proud of Jacob. His actions and how he has done everything right without any first aid training I think is remarkable, especially as he’s a child just turned 15. It’s just heroic.

’If it wasn’t for my son’s quick thinking, his dad would have definitely died. I would love for my son’s bravery to be recognised.’

Jacob was helping out on his dad’s smallholding between Cooill y Ree memorial gardens and Ballaleece Bridge just after midday on Wednesday January 9 when the accident happened.

He was tending one of the horses while his father, Nigel Kelly, was working at the other end of the field on his digger, which has an attachment for drilling holes for fence posts.

Jacob’s mother, Kimberley, said: ’He heard his dad screaming and went over to see this horrific scene with his dad’s torso sliced to ribbons and his foot pretty much hanging off. Nigel was in and out of consciousness.

’The drill had got caught on his foot and spun him around. The machine had then stalled.

’Jacob has never had first aid training in his life. But instinct and adrenaline kicked in.’

He bandaged up Nigel’s foot and body as best he could and used his jumper and coat to keep his dad warm.

With no mobile phone, Jacob then drove his dad’s Jeep across the private land up to the main road where he flagged down a passing motorist who called the emergency services.

Mr Kelly, of Castletown, was taken by ambulance to A&E at Noble’s Hospital and then airlifted to the critical care unit at Aintree University Hospital.

He was in a coma for some time but is now off life support and doing well.

It is thought his foot can be saved but he still has a long road to recovery, having suffered broken ribs, a punctured lung and a severe break to his leg.

He has had a long operation last week to remove muscles from his chest region and replace them lower down to protect his lungs, and then take a skin graft from his good left leg to cover the wound.

His sister Maggie posted on Facebook: ’He’s on lots of painkillers, sometimes with it, sometimes not. But it is such a relief knowing he is recovering. It’s going to be a long haul. He’s missing the kids like crazy.’

Kimberley said her ex adores their three children - Jacob, seven-year-old Mason and 10-year-old Lily-Hope who all live with her in Castletown.

She said: ’Jacob has suffered flashbacks but he will be okay.

’He just says: "He’s my dad, I was not going to leave him lying there was I?’

A police spokesman confirmed the constable who attended the scene of the accident was nominating Jacob for an award for his actions in saving his dad’s life.

A spokesman for the ambulance service said: ’An ambulance crew was called to an incident in St John’s at just after midday on January 9 to help an individual who had suffered significant injuries.

’He was taken to Noble’s Emergency Department and subsequently transferred later that day to Aintree Hospital by air ambulance.’