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Hero decorator saved my son's life

Paul Taylor
4/ 6/2008

A HERO decorator saved a baby boy's life after he choked on a sweet wrapper and couldn’t breathe.

Denton dad-of-four John Vaughan rushed to help little Darwin O’Brien after hearing his mum’s screams while he was painting at their home.

The 10-month-old boy was already limp, his lips were blue and his eyes were bulging.

Mum Nyesha, 28, froze in fear and although quick-thinking John put his fingers down Darwin’s throat he couldn’t clear the blockage.

He slapped him on the back and the wrapper came out.

Nyesha from Gorton said: "Darwin looked at me with terror in his eyes and I will never forget that look.

"My little seven-year-old girl Nirvana reached for the phone to call an ambulance.

"Then John banged my son’s back again between the shoulder blades and a big piece of wrapper from a chocolate bar came out of his mouth."

Nyesha had been in her kitchen cooking for Nirvana, who is recovering from a brain tumour.

The children had sneaked some sweets and chocolate into the front room and left the wrappers on the sofa. Darwin, who was in a baby walker, had put one of the wrappers in his mouth.

Nyesha said: "I owe John so much. I don’t want to think about what would have happened if he hadn’t been there.

"I’ve been finding him work with my friends and at my home, but it’s not really enough."

John, of Belford Avenue, has been nominated for a Manchester Heroes Awards with our sister paper, the MEN, by Nyesha for his actions.

John, 47, said: "It was quite traumatic. I could hear Nyesha screaming.

"Her little boy was in quite a state and I was relieved when the wrapper eventually popped out and then he started crying."