Ascot Vale, Melbourne: Great-grandmother, 88, is hailed a hero after saving her great-grandson, 2, from being crushed when their ceiling collapsed

A great-grandmother saved her great-grandson from being crushed when the roof of her house collapsed on the pair.

Nicky Panagiotidis, 88, was looking after two-year-old Harvey and was sitting on the sofa at her home in Ascot Vale, in Melbourne’s north, on Tuesday afternoon when the roof collapsed.

She rolled off the couch and shielded the toddler under her chest, saving him from the crushing weight.

But Ms Panagiotidis’ heroism landed her in hospital with severe bruising.

Luckily, she had woken Harvey from his nap moments before disaster struck.

Ms Panagiotidis was able to call her daughter Julie Polimos and tell her she was trapped under the rubble.

“I heard Harvey crying in the background and I said ‘Mom, it’s okay,'” she said. Nine news.

“She said ‘the ceiling is above me and I can’t move.’

Emergency services rushed to the property and rescued Harvey and Ms Panagiotidis, who were trapped under piles of plaster and insulation.

She had some bruising to her back and shoulders and was able to walk to the ambulance before being taken to hospital for treatment.

She was released from the hospital on Wednesday.

Ms Polimos praised her mother’s courageous act and said she was a “strong woman”.

Harvey’s relieved mother, Nicole Brown, said the situation could have been worse.

“It was the most unfortunate situation with the happiest outcome,” Ms. Brown said.

“That maternal instinct that she went through in herself to become a hero.”

A water leak reportedly caused the ceiling to collapse and cracks appeared on the roof a week ago.