Chicken Mcnightmare!
An Army hero saved my son from choking at Mcdonald’s
Shopping can be pretty hungry work!
Out browsing with family one Saturday in January 2016, I felt a familiar rumble.
Heading to Mcdonald’s in Hartlepool town centre, I knew immediately what would do the trick…
‘Burger, fries and a Chicken Mcnuggets Happy Meal, please!’ I said to the lad behind the till.
Meanwhile, my mum Sharon, 55, and sister Cheryl, 30, found a table.
As I waited for my order, my son Jacob, now 19 months, was cooing away in his pram.
‘Are you hungry?’ I asked, kissing his chubby cheeks.
He’d a great appetite, loved cucumber and salad.
But chicken nuggets and chips were his fave. Only as a treat, though! Grabbing my order, I took it over to Mum and Cheryl, then grabbed a high chair for Jacob.
‘Make sure to strap him in!’ Mum warned.
‘As if I wouldn’t!’ I sighed, rolling my eyes.
The doting grandma, Mum was always worrying!
Finally settled, I ripped up Jacob’s chicken nuggets and chips into tiny little pieces.
‘Eat up, darling!’ I said, pushing the food towards him.
Babbling and gurgling away, he excitedly started to throw food on the floor. ‘Don’t do that, silly,’ I said. There was only one thing for it…
‘Here comes the airplane!’ I sang, grabbing his attention as I popped a piece of chicken
nugget in his mouth.
Job done!
Then I left him to it as I unwrapped my burger.
But, after a few minutes, my little boy went quiet...
‘What’s wrong with Jacob?’ Mum gasped.
‘Nothing, he’s just enjoying his food!’ I mumbled, mouth full.
But, glancing up, I noticed his face and tiny heart-shaped lips were quickly turning blue.
‘He’s choking!’ I screamed. ‘A chunk must have gone down his throat the wrong way.’
When Jacob was born, I’d done a first-aid course, so knew what to do.
But now, heart thumping, my mind went blank and my body froze.
Desperate, Mum and Cheryl cried for help as they patted Jacob on the back.
But nothing dislodged the piece of chicken.
Terrified of losing my little lad, I was crying as a crowd
started to gather. Then… ‘Pass him to me!’ a man shouted. ‘To me…now!’
Turning, I saw a man in a wheelchair, as someone placed Jacob in his arms. Then, the stranger put Jacob over his knee, and hit his back firmly. One… two… three…
It was so methodic.
After what seemed like an eternity, Jacob coughed. Relief!
Except, as the man sat Jacob up, my boy started choking again. Seconds felt like hours. But another swift slap on the back did the trick, and a chunk of chicken fell to the floor.
‘My baby!’ I cried, hugging Jacob.
It all happened so fast, before I could say thank you, the hero stranger was gone.
‘Who was he?’ I asked Mum, looking round the restaurant.
‘A security guard said he’s an ex-army medic,’ she said.
He saved Jacob’s life, how could I ever repay him?
Back home, I broke down telling my partner Craig, 31, about the harrowing ordeal.
‘It doesn’t bear thinking about what could’ve happened,’ I sobbed. ‘I need to thank that man.’
Determined, I posted a plea on Facebook, explaining everything and how I needed to find my vanishing hero!
Within hours it was shared over 200 times.
And someone tagged Jacob’s saviour… Glenn Kidman.
A dad-of-three, he’d been in the Army for 21 years, and is due to retire next year.
Glenn had his leg amputated recently after serving. He’d been eating with his family, before seeing Jacob choking.
Thrilled, I messaged him, thanking him for everything.
‘I was just doing my job,’ he replied. ‘Anyone would have done the same.’
So modest.
We haven’t been back to Mcdonald’s since. Jacob’s so picky with his food now.
I can never repay Glenn, he saved us from a very unhappy meal.
He’s my hero. I couldn’t be more grateful.
I noticed Jacob’s face and lips were quickly turning blue