A FATHER saved his tiny son’s life by giving him CPR when he suddenly stopped breathing.

Paul Harvey said carrying out the manoeuvre on then seven week old Arlo was one of the scariest things he had ever had to do.

He said “My body was on autopilot and I just got on and did it while my brain was screaming at me to get him to breathe.”

Arlo was born prematurely and spent seven weeks at the Trevor Mann baby unit at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

Mr Harvey, 29, and his wife Kirsty, also 29, were told he suffered a reflux problem and had been given training on carrying out CPR on Arlo before they took him home.

Just two days after getting home Arlo was sitting on Mrs Harvey’s lap at the family’s home in Carden Avenue, Brighton, when he stopped breathing.

Mr Harvey, who is an engineer, said: “I had done the course a week before and I remember at the time thinking I would never be able to carry it out and I would panic.

“But instinct kicked in and I got him breathing again while Kirsty called for the ambulance.”

Arlo, who is now just over 14 weeks, was rushed back to the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton, where he still remains.

Tests revealed the youngster has a severe acid reflux problem, meaning stomach acids are returned back up through the gullet.

In the course of 24 hours, this happened 88 times to Arlo and he is now fed through a tube that goes straight through to his lower gut.

Arlo was allowed back home again on June 23 but his parents became worried about his condition and brought him back where it was revealed he had meningitis.

Further tests showed it had developed as a result of the Group B strep infection, which affects newborn babies.

Mr Harvey said: “He is a very resilient boy and is doing well at the moment but he has really been very poorly.

“We are waiting to see how he responds to antibiotics so we can bring him home again.”

In the meantime the couple, who have five other children, are raising awareness of Group B strep, which is the biggest cause of life-threatening infections in babies.

They are planning an event for July 29 to raise money for the Lindfield-based charity Group B Strep Support and to also highlight the condition.

Mr Harvey said: “I don’t think people realise how severe this infection can be and yet it is something that can be picked up through tests during pregnancy.

“We have been lucky because we brought Arlo into hospital just in time when he developed meningitis.

“He was unusual because signs of the infection normally shows around the time the baby is born.

“We want to make sure others are aware and to back the charity’s campaign for screening.”

  • The fundraiser organised by Arlo’s parents is on July 29 at St Mary Magdalen Church, Selham, Drive, Coldean, Brighton from midday to 4pm.

The fete will feature bric a brac, bouncy castle, cake sales, raffles, guess the sweets in the jar and much more.

Representatives from Lindfield-based charity Group B Strep Support will be there to provide more information about the infection and to talk about its campaign.

To support the Harveys, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/arlo-harvey