Sheffield supermarket worker jumps into action to save life of choking baby at checkouts
Shop worker goes into lifesaving mode to rescue choking baby
A worker sprung into lifesaving action amid concerns a baby was choking at a Sheffield supermarket checkout.
The incident happened at the Asda in Hansdworth, Sheffield, as the stricken youngster choked on some food at the tills.
Sonia Bibby, aged 53, was working on the self checkouts when she spotted the little boy choking and coughing in a trolley basket seat.
The mum-of-two, who has worked for Asda for 19 years, said: "He was panicking as he couldn't get his breath. His mum saw him at the same time as I did and picked him up. My instinct was to say 'pass him to me' which she did.
"He had a thick coat on, so I took it off. Then a lady customer came over and said for me to turn him on belly and pat his back hard, so I bent him forward and hit him with the palm of my hand.
“It didn't work at first, so I tried to loosen some of the bits in his mouth with my fingers, and then patted him again and the stuck pieces came out, thank God.
”My heart was going 10 to the dozen. It was such a relief. It brought a bit of a tear to my eye when Makiah started to cry and just wanted his mum. I then went to the cafe to get him some juice."
LIttle Makiah Khan’s mum, Ashleigh, brought Makiah and his older sister, Malicah, to the shop to thank Sonia for her quick actions.
Ashleigh, aged 32, said her whole family were grateful to Sonia and the customer who helped.
She said: "We were at the till and Makiah must have been putting food into his mouth without me realising it. I looked over and he was choking and struggling to breathe. It was just awful.
"When I got home afterwards I couldn't stop thinking of how Sonia and the other lady both potentially saved his life. My family and I are very grateful, and I'm so glad Sonia got an award for what she did. She was so kind to us afterwards too.
"I was so scared and in shock. The whole incident just felt like it was going on forever. Thankfully, Makiah is fully back to himself and it's not put him off his food."
Sonia added: "Anybody else would have done the same. I saw Makiah choking and instinct took over. His mum was very grateful but I was just doing my job. I was just relieved that he was fine afterwards."
Sonia has now been named regional winner in the Asda service superstar wards for her heroics.