POLICE COUPLE SAVE BOY’S LIFE
TWO cops showed they are never off-duty when they saved a boy’s life while on holiday in North Wales after he choked on a chicken nugget. The officers, a married couple, were on holiday in Barmouth when they spotted a boy who had become “lifeless and floppy” after getting the food stuck in his throat.
Four-year-old Dexter was choking on a nugget in a beachside restaurant earlier this summer and his dad John did not know what to do.
But the officers from West Midlands Police – identified only as Detention Escort Officer Vincent and Emergency Response Officer Vincent – put their life-saving first-aid skills in to action for the very first time.
Dad John said their calmness, training and professionalism saved Dexter’s life.
“I didn’t know first aid – I was trying everything. But he was going blue and he was going limp. And then suddenly they were there.”
The Vincents, who asked not to be further identified, have both been with West Midlands Police for more than 10 years and did not hesitate to help.
DEO Vincent said: “His dad was quite understandably in panic -mode. He didn’t know what to do. So I stepped in and took hold of Dexter, and slapped him on the back a couple of times, but I realise now it was not hard enough.”
Then PC Vincent tried five times to dislodge the nugget.
DEO Vincent continued: “But Dexter was starting to lose consciousness and going limp in my arms.
“So I did six chest thrusts and finally the chicken nugget came out on the sixth one.
“The lad started to come back round quite quickly after that and my wife put him on her knee and comforted him.”
The detention officer added: “We’d learned what to do thanks to the training we’ve had, throughout my 13 years with WMP, and for my wife it’s 14 years.
“But it’s the first time I’ve had to use my first aid skills for anything as serious as this.
“It just goes to show that it really does work and we’re so pleased we were there and able to help.”
Luckily Dexter was checked by paramedics and hospital staff but was “none the worse” after his traumatic choking incident.
Dad John has since written to Chief Constable Dave Thompson praising the pair for not only their life-saving actions, but their care and kindness, which he says he feels he’ll never adequately be able to repay.
Superintendent Jack Hadley said: “When I heard what these two officers had done I was truly humbled and see both of them as absolute heroes.
“It is wonderful to know that their first aid skills kicked in and they were both able to remain calm, remember their training, and do what was needed to save this young boy’s life.”
The couple’s life-saving actions are currently being reviewed by their local Rewards and Recognition panel and they are set to be nominated for an appropriate award.