THE parents of an 11-year-old boy who saved his little brother’s life when he was choking on gum hailed their son a hero last night.

Christian and Andrew Spencer were playing in a park near their home in Coundon Grange, County Durham, when Christian noticed his brother was lying on the ground motionless.

A piece of gum had become lodged in the eight-year-old’s throat as he ran the short distance from the house to the park, leaving him unable to breathe, cough or shout out for help.

Christian, who learnt how to administer CPR on a first aid course with his school last year, slapped Andrew on the back and pressed his chest, before slapping his back again, between the shoulders, dislodging the gum.

The drama unfolded on Wednesday afternoon. Last night, the boys’ mother, Lisa, said: “They were both in floods of tears.

“Christian went into shock, saying he was going to be sick, and Andrew was a very funny colour. I was hugging them both.

“Christian has always looked out for his little brother, but they don’t usually play out together. We check on them every five or ten minutes when they are in the park, but if Christian hadn’t been there, then that would’ve been five or ten minutes too long.

“We are just so proud of him – he is our little hero – and Andrew is a little star for starting to breathe again.”

Mrs Spencer and her husband, Derick, who also have a daughter, Bethany, 13, contacted the urgent care department at Bishop Auckland Hospital for advice after the incident, but neither of the boys required medical treatment.

Christian, who has just left Prince Bishop’s Primary School, in Coundon Grange, said he remembered what to do after being taught CPR during a school trip to a hospital.

Mrs Spencer said she regularly warns the children about the risks of choking on sweets and chewing gum, and does not allow the boys to have chewing gum.

Darlington Memorial Hospital consulting paediatrician Dr Indra Thakur said: “It is brilliant that an 11-year-old was so quickthinking and remembered what he had learnt to do the right thing to come to the aid of his brother.

“Choking is quite common in children.

If it is a solid object then it can be fatal and children can die if the appropriate measures are not taken.”

A spokeswoman for the St John Ambulance charity, which trains people in first aid, said: “When someone starts to choke they can be dead within minutes.

“An estimated 150,000 people die yearly from things like bleeding, choking and heart attacks, where swift and correct first aid would have saved their lives.

“More alarmingly, two out of three people do not know what to do in an emergency if someone was choking in front of them.

“We recommend everyone goes on some kind of first aid training course.”

To order a free pocket-sized essential first aid guide, visit sja.org.uk

St John Ambulance advice

■ For babies

IF a baby is choking, check mouth and remove any obvious obstruction.

Lay it face down along your forearm, with its head low, and support the back and head.

Give up to five back blows with the heel of your hand.

If the obstruction is still present, turn the infant onto their back and give up to five chest thrusts, by using two fingers to push inwards and upwards (towards the head) against the baby’s breast bone, one finger’s breadth below the nipple line.

The aim is to relieve the obstruction with each chest thrust rather than necessarily doing all five.

If the obstruction does not clear after three cycles of back blows and chest thrusts, dial 999 for an ambulance and continue until help arrives.

■ For adults and children

WHEN an adult or child is choking, first of all encourage them to cough.

Support their upper body with one hand and help them lean forward.

If that does not work, give them five sharp blows to the back, between the shoulder blades, with the heel of the hand. If that fails, stand behind them and put both arms around the upper part of the abdomen. Clench your fist. Place between the naval and the bottom of the breast bone.

Grasp fist firmly with the other hand and pull sharply inwards and upwards five times.

Repeat the back slaps and abdominal thrusts up to three times, then call 999 and continue until help arrives.