Choking baby is saved by quick-thinking staff
It's every parent's worst nightmare. Hours earlier Jodie Mason and Sam Hancocks had dropped their 'little miracle' Faith off at nursery – then they got a phone call saying their child had stopped breathing.
The couple's world was turned upside down in an instant – but quick-thinking staff at Bentley West Sure Start saved the day, and 11-month-old Faith's life.
They performed resuscitation on the youngster to keep her alive after she lost consciousness, and paramedics managed to dislodge the rogue vegetable which was blocking her airway.
Faith is now recovering from her ordeal and her relieved parents have paid tribute to the nursery workers whose life-saving intervention prevented tragedy.
Little Faith had been tucking into her chopped vegetables when she started to cough and then choke. Staff sprung into action and performed CPR, managing to get her breathing again until paramedics arrived.
Faith was taken to Walsall Manor Hospital at lunchtime on Monday, where she spent more than 24 hours in the care of nurses.
The youngster was today safely back at home in Rhys Thomas Close, Short Heath, Willenhall with her parents Jodie and bus driver partner Sam Hancocks.
Bank worker Jodie, who was told there was only a slim chance of her having children before she conceived, has hailed the actions of staff at the nursery in Monmouth Road. The drama happened on her first day back at work following the birth of Faith, her first child.
She said: "I was told she started having her dinner which was chopped vegetables. She was eating her dinner when she started having a coughing fit.
"They reckon a piece of food got stuck. The members of staff at the nursery tried to get whatever was stuck out.
"She carried on choking and then went unconscious."
It was then that staff stepped in quickly and carried out CPR, managing to get Faith breathing again within minutes ahead of the ambulance arriving.
Miss Mason said: "I am forever grateful for what they did.
"If it wasn't for how quickly the nursery reacted and the CPR that they did my daughter would have died.
"My heart is in my mouth since it happened, it is just hitting home to us what has happened.
"She is absolutely amazing, you would not believe what happened to her. She is known as the little miracle."
