A FUNDRAISING page has been set up as a community rallies around the family of a two-year-old boy who is fighting for his life after he apprarently choked on a grape at a restaurant.

The parents of the young boy, named  as Jacob Jenkins, are keeping a bedside vigil while the toddler remains in a coma in Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary.

More than £2,000 was raised within hours of family friend, Ben Picken, launching the fundraising campaign on the Go Fund Me website in a bid to help the family through a traumatic time.

The youngster, from Hartlepool, fell ill at about 5.40pm on Friday at Pizza Hut on Hartlepool Marina. The helicopter from Great North Air Ambulance Service and a rapid response unit from the North East Ambulance Service responded to the incident.

A Facebook message posted by the child's mother Abigail Wilson over the weekend revealed that he is in a coma and fighting for his life.

It said: “Me and [the boy's father David Jenkins] want to thank everyone for your kind messages and prayers of support for Jacob.

“And also keep everyone updated on Jacob as it’s hard to reply to all your lovely supportive messages.

“Jacob is on life support now in a coma. He has his own heartbeat back and I hope he continues to give this strong fight he is giving and I hope I can give you all the best news possible."

Mr Picken told The Northern Echo: "Jacob wanted to go to Pizza Hut for his mam’s birthday. While waiting for his pizza he was snacking on grapes when one became stuck in his airway.

"What happened next I can’t even begin to imagine. [It is] heartbreaking.”

The Great North Air Ambulance attended, landing on open ground near the Vue cinema. However, Jacob was taken by road ambulance to James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, before being transferred to Newcastle.

A spokeswoman for the North East Ambulance Service said: “We were called at 5.41pm to an address in the Hartlepool Marina area.

“We sent a rapid response car and a double-crewed ambulance, and requested that the air ambulance attend.

“The air ambulance was not needed, and the casualty was transported to the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough.”

The restaurant was closed after the incident, and will not reopen until further notice.

A spokeswoman for Pizza Hut said: “We can confirm that there was a very serious incident involving a child at our Hartlepool Hut.

“Our thoughts and concern are with the child and his family at this very difficult time.

"The Pizza Hut team are devastated by this terrible incident and we will cooperate fully with all authorities."

To make a donation visit www.gofundme.com/4d64c9ks.