A supermarket worker saved a toddler's life after he started choking on a gummy sweet.
Joanne Lang was applauded after hitting the boy's back several times to allow him to breathe during the incident at an Asda store in Farnworth, Bolton, Greater Manchester.
The child, believed to be between two and three years, was shopping with his mum and sat in a trolley when the snake sweet got lodged in his throat, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Joanne, a mum herself and a trained first-aider, was stationed at the self-scan checkouts and sprang into action when she spotted the boy struggling with face having turned red.
She said: "It was just pure instinct.
"It all happened very quickly, but at the time it seemed like forever.
"I saw the little boy out of the corner of my eye sitting in a trolley and knew straight away that something was wrong as his face was going red and he was having difficulty breathing.
"He wasn't coughing so I knew something was stuck."
Explaining how she managed to save his life, she said: "I used the heel of my hand to hit him on the back a couple of times and the snake came out.
"I think he'd managed to swallow it whole and it got stuck.
"When it came out, the boy, who was aged about two or three, just looked at me with a massive grin on his face. It was such a relief that he was okay."
She continued: "His mum was in shock. She thanked me and then they left. I had a little breather and then went back to work."
Joanne, who has worked at the store for eight months and has a 24-year-old son, added: "I just did what anyone else would have done.
"I was in the right place at the right time. It wasn't really about the first aid it was about being a mum."
Since the incident, Joanne has been nominated for an Asda service superstar award by customer trading manager Rita Charleston.
Rita says all the staff at the Greater Manchester store are proud of Joanne.
"What she did was absolutely amazing," she said.
"She single-handedly saved that child from choking. The situation could have had a very different outcome if it wasn't for Joanne."
Customers were quick to praise Joanne after her story was shared online on Asda's Facebook page.
Many shared their own personal stories of almost choking when they were a child.
Aileen Haslam wrote: "Well done, Joanne. If someone hadn’t done the same for me 73+years ago, I probably wouldn’t be here to tell my story. hope the little boy is okay."
Lisa Nichols said: "I chocked on a boiled sweet when I was young, around five I think. I remember going blue and not being able to breathe. My dad turned me over and hit my back until the sweet came out.
"It was shocking that's why I never allowed my kids to have boiled sweets or lollies when they were young. I still don't eat them myself absolute dangerous sweets."
Cheryl Hawkins said: "Well done. My son choked on end of a sausage it was lodged we tried everything get it out.
"My husband was trying get it out I was on phone to ambulance but by this time his face was going blue. My husband managed to dislodge it thank god."
Shirley Kelk said: "Well done, someone came to my rescue a few years ago whilst in Padstow, Cornwall. Saved my life then he disappeared before we could thank him.
"His voice alone soothed my panic."
Lynne Murphy said: "Well done, fantastic job. You saved his life with your quick thinking and knowing what to do in a choking situation....His mum will never forget what you did."
Sandra Moss added: "Quick action was needed, well done for jumping in to help. Choking is so frightening and needs urgent intervention, well done."
