Mum hails 'hero' joiner for helping choking daughter

Sian Berridge said Paul Flanagan stepped in when Gracie-Rae started gasping and going blue

The mother of a three-year-old has hailed a council joiner as a "hero" after he helped to save her daughter from choking.

Sian Berridge said she would be eternally grateful to Paul Flanagan, who came to the aid of Gracie-Rae.

She said she found her choking on a lollipop at their home in Sileby, Leicestershire, last month and ran outside in search of help, where she found Paul.

The Charnwood Borough Council worker, known by his nickname "Bob", leapt into action and managed to dislodge the lolly from the youngster's throat.

Gracie-Rae was taken to hospital to be checked over before being given the all-clear.

Ms Berridge, a mother of three, told the council she firmly believes the joiner's swift reactions saved her daughter's life.

'Freaked out'

She said: "When I came out I noticed Gracie in the hallway, gasping and going blue, and then I saw the stick with no lolly on it. The lolly must have come off in her mouth.

"I just freaked out. You know what to do but when it actually happens, you just panic. So I scooped her up and took her outside, shouting 'help me, help me, help me'.

"Bob happened to be the first person I saw and he just took her straight away, turned her on to her front and starting patting her back.

"I can't thank him enough – my dad still wants to take him for a pint. He's a hero. He saved my little girl's life and I will forever be thankful to him."

Bob worked for the council via an agency for five years but only recently became a full-time employee in the voids repairs team.

He said: "It was only my second week on the job and I was just packing up at the end of the day, when I saw Sian and Gracie-Rae.

"It all just happened so quickly that I didn't really have time to think about it. I just did what I could.

"But after I got home and everything had quietened down, it suddenly hit me and I did get a bit emotional. I am just glad everything worked out and Gracie-Rae was OK."