Leigh police officer saved two-year-old from choking on her tongue on A49
5:50pm Thursday 7th March 2013 in North West
PC Scott Wolstenholme
A LEIGH police officer has been praised for helping to save the life of a two-year-old girl who was choking on her tongue.
PC Scott Wolstenholme, a road officer based at Leigh, was driving along the A49 near Newton on February 23 when he spotted a woman on the side of the road holding a little girl who looked ‘blue and floppy’.
Gemma Lake, aged 26, had pulled her car over after noticing her two-year-old niece having a seizure and choking on her tongue in the car.
She had her hazard lights on and her niece over her knee, desperately trying to help her.
PC Wolstenholme, who was in the car with his family, pulled over and rushed to help the girl by administering first aid and managed to get her breathing again.
He kept hold of her until the ambulance arrived and explained to paramedics what had happened Praising his actions, Gemma said: “He jumped out of the car, grabbed her off me and starting tapping her on the back.
“She was still blue so he started slapping her on the back and finally she gasped and could breathe again. We were so relieved when the colour came back into her face.
“His prompt action will never be forgotten and he will always be seen as our hero. He is one of a kind and a real credit to the police force. I can’t thank him enough.”
PC Wolstenholme, who has two young children himself and was off-duty at the time of the incident, said: “The child was completely unresponsive – I could not see her breathing.
“It is just something you do. It is in your nature. All day every day you are helping people at work. I am so pleased at the result.”
Ch Insp Mark Dexter, from Greater Manchester Police, said: “We are immensely proud of Scott’s quick thinking and coolness in an incredibly stressful situation.
“This was undoubtedly terrifying for Gemma and Scott used all his skill and training to take control and administer vital first aid. He arguably saved this little girl’s life and is an absolute credit to GMP and the roads policing unit.”
