Council Joiner Praised for Saving Choking Child

A council joiner has been lauded as a “hero” by the mother of a three-year-old, following his intervention to save her daughter from choking. Sian Berridge expressed her everlasting gratitude to Paul Flanagan, who provided assistance to Gracie-Rae. Ms. Berridge recounted discovering her daughter choking on a lollipop at their residence in Sileby, Leicestershire, last month. She then rushed outdoors seeking help and encountered Paul. The Charnwood Borough Council employee, identified by his nickname “Bob,” acted swiftly, successfully removing the lollipop from the child’s throat. Gracie-Rae was transported to a hospital for examination and subsequently discharged after receiving a clean bill of health. Ms. Berridge, who is a mother of three, informed the council of her strong conviction that the joiner’s prompt actions preserved her daughter’s life. 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 had been employed by the council through an agency for five years, transitioning to a full-time position within the voids repairs team only recently. 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.”