A mother has thanked her son and neighbours who rushed to her aid after she is believed to have suffered a sudden and freak allergic reaction.

Sarah Stylianou’s neighbour, Dr Martin Wolfson, believes she could have died or been brain damaged had she not received the treatment she desperately needed so quickly.

Sarah was out for a walk with her dog in woodland in Radlett on Monday morning when her body began itching all over and her lips began swelling up.

The 52-year-old knew something wasn't quite right but there was absolutely no one around to help.

She sent a message to a Whatsapp group for her street asking for antihistamine and took the decision to get into her car and drive back to her home in Elstree.

Sarah safely arrived at home and was greeted by her neighbour, Jerry Lipsie - but Sarah's condition would begin to deterioate quickly.

Jerry said: "Sarah drove in and she just stopped and got out of the car with her car engine running. She immediately started to stagger around but she looked extremely uncomfortable and agitated.

"I sat her down and her son came out and then another neighbour came out with water. Sarah was on the floor and then she fell unconscious and I shouted to get Dr Wolfson."

Jerry gave Sarah two Piriton tablets after receiving medical advice but he realised the situation was really serious when Dr Wolfson was pleading on the phone to paramedics that medical treatment was needed "immediately".

Sarah is believed to have suffered an anaphylactic shock - Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction to a trigger such as an allergy.

Dr Wolfson, a semi-retired GP, who qualified as a doctor in 1974, said: "There are very few occasions where I've saved someone's life and this was one of them.

"If we hadn't done what was necessary, Sarah could easily have lost her life.

"She told me she couldn't breathe because the walls of her airways had swollen up. An anaphylactic shock can cause swelling of the airways.

"There is only one treatment, which is adrenaline, which has to be given as soon as possible."

When the paramedics arrived, which was within ten minutes of the emergency call being made, Sarah was given an adrenaline shot before being taken to hospital. She has since recovered and returned home and been given an adrenaline pen so first aid can be provided immediately if it was to happen again.

The mother-of-four is incredibly grateful to her neighbours, as well as her son Alex, 21.

Borehamwood Times: Alex with his mother SarahAlex with his mother Sarah

She said: "The whole street are saying I should be so proud of Alex because he stayed so calm and put me into the recovery position when I lost consciousness.

"My neighbour Jerry kept talking to me and Dr Wolfson stayed with me. They and everyone else who helped are all heroes to me.

"What happened came as a huge shock. I have hayfever but this never happened before and I really don't know what caused it. Perhaps a tree that touched my skin.

"When it happened, I knew something awful was happening. My throat was closing up and I was scared to be on my own. Of course I wouldn't advise getting into a car but my home was only a few minutes away."

Dr Wolfson, 71, added: "An anaphylactic shock can be fatal. It's rare and I have never seen it before personally. Nobody knows what caused Sarah's allergic reaction and it may be difficult to find out what did. But it can take over your body within minutes.

"She could have died or been brain damaged had she not received the treatment she did so quickly."