PINON HILLS, Calif. — Four weeks ago Karin Jordal’s son set up a Web camera in her living room. Last Thursday it saved her life.

A diabetic, the 69-year-old Jordal passed out when her blood sugar level became dangerously low. Watching half a world away in the Philippines Jordal’s son, Tore, became alarmed seeing his mother motionless on the couch. Unable to raise her on her cell phone and unable to summon authorities in California, Tore called his brother, Ole, and his wife, Tammy, in Norway.

Tammy was able to contact authorities and within 10 minutes Tore — still watching on the Web cam — could see paramedics coming to the aid of his mother. She was rushed to Desert Valley Hospital, treated and released.

“I’m a little shaky, but otherwise I’m back to normal,” Jordal said. “The team of them saved my life. Because if you are unconscious for a long time either you die or you end up with brain damage. This was really serious. I have never been unconscious for that long. This saved my life, it really did.”

Jordal was motionless on her living room couch for two hours when Tore in the Philippines checked in through the Internet.

“He tried to call her, and got no answer,” Ole said by telephone from the western Norway city of Bergen. “He had also tried to call the police and ambulances (in California), but couldn’t get through.”

Ole said his brother then called him in Norway, as he and Tammy, originally from Long Island, N.Y., were having breakfast.

“My wife is American and she knew exactly whom to call for help,” he said. “It took five or 10 minutes for the ambulance personnel to arrive.”

He said the family was on the verge of tears when they watched on the Web camera as ambulance personnel assisted their diabetic mother.

Tore was able to communicate with paramedics through the Internet as they helped his mother. “My youngest son in the Philippines saw the paramedics come in and he told them about my medical conditions,” Jordal said. “One of these paramedics sat down and typed and communicated with him. That was so clever.”

Since her brush with death Jordal has made headlines around the world in Norwegian newspapers, on CBS television and will be featured in a future CNN program.

“I thank that camera and my sons for my life,” Jordal told the Norwegian newspaper Bergens Tidende by telephone. She has lived in the U.S. and Spain on and off for the past 15 years.

Ole said low blood sugar caused his mother’s collapse. He said the family set up Web cameras in their homes because of the high cost of staying in touch by telephone when they live so far apart.

“But now I see the Internet as a way to save lives. It’s also a wonderful tool for people who live alone in some remote area, and might need help,” he said.