SUSANNA Reid choked back tears and hugged a grieving mother during a hugely emotional Good Morning Britain segment on Tuesday.
The mum of three, 54, wrapped brave parent Naomi Rees-Issitt in a big cuddle after her interview on the ITV daytime series.
Naomi, who lost son Jamie Rees after he suffered a cardiac arrest three years ago, is now campaigning for defibrillators to be installed in all police cars in the aftermath of the tragedy.
The horror incident struck as Jamie was ringing in the New Year in Rugby with his mates.
His friends were quick to administer CPR after he collapsed with chest pains yet a defibrillator, one minute away at a nearby primary school, could not be accessed as the school was locked.
Sadly, the youngster passed away five days later at University Hospital in Coventry.
Naomi’s campaign to install the devices in police cars could well help to solve the defibrillator issue for future emergencies.
Susanna was clearly emotional through the discussion and, as the interview concluded, scooted across the sofa to give her a hug.
There was a moment of silence in the Good Morning Britain studio before Susanna told her: “You are amazing.
“It is such an important thing you are doing.”
Susanna’s co-host Ed Balls, 54, told Naomi: “Think how proud Jamie would be.”
The parent, who was in Canada when Jamie suffered the attack, replied: “I hear him in my ear all the time, telling me not to forget to say this.”
Earlier in the episode, Naomi – who is now chair of the OurJay Foundation – had demonstrated how simple it is to use a defibrillator, to try to allay any fear.
Talking of how it could have saved Jamie’s life, she said in her raw chat: “Jamie’s heart was actually re-started.
“He was a one in a million case that still had a shockable output, even after 20 minutes.
“So had that defibrillator had been there at 10, 11, 12 minutes, the oxygen starvation wouldn’t have been as severe and there’s every chance he could have been here today if we had just had that access to it.”
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After the chat finished, Ed and Susanna crossed to competition host Andi Peters, who was also in tears.
It was later revealed he became so emotional because the chat sparked a memory of the huge importance of a defibrillator in saving a man’s life after he suffered a heart attack in Andi’s gym.
It has been an emotional week for the broadcaster on the ITV daytime series.
On Monday, the mum-of-three told how she was left “devastated” for the family members of three teenage victims who passed away in a car crash.
Susanna and Good Morning Britain co-host Ed, welcomed Elliot Pullen’s sister Mia and auntie Laura Oakes to the programme for the emotional chat.
In June 2023, Elliot – who was 17 – and pals Daniel Hancock, 18, Ethan Goddard, 18, were killed after travelling in a car driven by 19-year-old Thomas Johnson.
He was captured driving his BMW at more than 100mph on a 30mph road as he overtook other cars – while a shocking video showed him inhaling laughing gas shortly before he killed his three friends.
Johnson then smashed into a tree in Marcham, Oxfordshire – killing all three of his passengers.
In December 2024 Thomas, who suffered life-threatening injuries, pleaded guilty to three counts of causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to nine years behind bars.
Susanna branded the tragic incident an “absolute senseless loss of life” before Mia said: “I just want them to see the horror this has caused our family.
“It’s absolutely torn us apart.
“Our lives will never be the same. It’s had such a ripple effect over the families, the friends. Everyone.”
