Boy, 5, saves little sister’s life after she started choking on a chip
Heneleigh Steele, who has muscular dystrophy, spotted 18-month-old Harper turning blue in her pushchair at a seafront fireworks display
A BOY of five saved his little sister when she began choking on a chip.
Henleigh Steele, who has muscular dystrophy, spotted 18-month-old Harper turning blue in her pushchair at a seafront fireworks display.
With the roar of the crowd drowning out her sounds of distress, he shouted: “Mummy, mummy” and told her to look at the toddler.
The family dislodged the chip before Harper was checked by medics at the event in Blackpool.
Mum Georgina, 24 — whose four-year-old son Harley also has the muscle wasting disease — said: “The first thing we knew was Henleigh shouting ‘Mummy, Mummy!’ and telling me to look at Harper.
“Her face was purple and she couldn’t breathe.
“My first reaction was to snatch her out of the pram and slap heron the back.
“I was panicking - it all happened so fast.”
The family managed to dislodge the piece of food from Harper’s throat before rushing her to paramedics from St John’s ambulance service.
Medics quickly confirmed the toddler had not suffered any serious damage.
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Ashley said: “It was horrible - really horrible.
“When something like that happens you automatically think the worst.
“You don’t want to think what might’ve happened if Henleigh hadn’t shouted when he did.”
Speaking about the incident, mum-of-three Georgina said: “Thank goodness she was OK and we managed to get to her before it was too late.
“Henleigh is my little hero.
“Without him who knows what could have happened.
“Because of his age you might not think he’d have the sense to realise what was going on and shout us - but he did.
“He’s amazing.
“He’s a real hero and I couldn’t be prouder.”
An NHS spokesman said: “Children, particularly those aged from one to five, often put objects in their mouth.
“This is a normal part of how they explore the world.
““If your child is coughing loudly, there’s no need to do anything.
Encourage them to carry on coughing and don’t leave them.
“If your child’s coughing is not effective (it’s silent or they can’t breathe in properly), shout for help immediately.
“If your child is still conscious, but they’re either not coughing or their coughing is not effective, use back blows.
“If a choking child is, or becomes, unconscious, put them on a firm, flat surface and call 999.”