A PARAMEDIC and alternative therapy practitioner has been praised by a family for his “magic touch” after coming to the aid of a baby boy.

Normally happy and healthy 14-month-old Kellum caused his family to panic when his temperature soared to 40C and he began convulsing at 1.30am.

His 18-year-old mum Vicky Dean was frightened for her son, who had never suffered ill-health before.

Miss Dean and her family – stepmum Sharon Pryke, dad Paul Dean, 41, and her stepsiblings Jamie, 19, Mel, 14, and Tash, nine, were anxious and immediately called 999 for help.

The family, of Colne Road, Halstead, were impressed by the swift arrival of paramedics Becka Thurgood and Dean Jay, and they were “amazed” by reiki practitioner Mr Jay’s sudden calming effect on the family.

Full time mum Miss Dean said: “It was really frightening and I didn’t know what to do. I just panicked.

“I was so impressed by how Dean handled him. I noticed how he calmed him down really well and straight away Kellum fell asleep on his chest.

“I just want to thank Becca and Dean.”

Mr Jay, 38, a father-of-two from Halstead, said: “I wouldn’t use reiki as a substitute for conventional treatment but it aids calming.

“I couldn’t speak more highly of it. It’s wonderful. I have been having it done on myself for five years.

“The first level is sorting your own wellbeing out in order to be an aid to somebody else.

“You’re open all the time, every day, so any contact is a benefit.

“I left Kellum with some healing energy.”

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