Rebecca Kerston saved Iliya Walters, 6 life when she choked on a candy cane. Photo/George Novak
Rebecca Kerston saved Iliya Walters, 6 life when she choked on a candy cane. Photo/George Novak
A shaken Bay mum has praised the quick-thinking actions of a teenager who saved her young daughter's life when she choked on a candy cane at school.
Mum-of-two Lee Walters, 44, of Greerton told how her 6-year-old daughter Iliya "almost died" on Monday when she started choking on a candy cane on the playground of Greerton Village school.
It was there that 19-year-old Rebecca Kersten noticed that Iliya had gone pale and was struggling to breathe and quickly performed first-aid to dislodge the lolly.
"I have no doubt Rebecca saved my daughter's life. She is a hero to me. To the whole family. Who knows what could have happened if Rebecca hadn't been there or hadn't known what to do, we are all just so grateful."
Hugging her mother closely, Iliya told the Bay of Plenty Times, "It was stuck. I was scared and sad. Rebecca hit me on the back hard. Then it went down there [pointing to her stomach] She saved me."
Rebecca Kerston saved Iliya Walters life when she choked on a candy cane. Photo/George Novak
Ms Kersten, a staff member of Coast Kids after-school programme had been waiting in the school playground at 3pm to collect the children to take them to the Coast Kids centre in Greerton which Iliya attended.
She said some of the students were eating candy canes and other Christmas treats.
"I didn't think much of that as it is that time of year when they get goodies."
When Iliya sat down, Ms Kersten noticed all was not well.
"She did a strange cough and went pale. I told her 'shake your head if you are not okay'. She shook her head. She was going whiter and became silent. I asked if she could breathe and she shook her head quickly. I instinctively realised she was choking."
Her first-aid training - which she had just received a refresher course on at the centre only six weeks earlier - kicked in.
"I lent her forward, and checked her mouth but couldn't see anything. I thought it must be stuck in her throat. She is only a wee thing so first I tried to dislodge it by tapping her on the back. Nothing. I tapped again harder. Still nothing and she was turning completely white with no sound. She looked scared. It was then I did the chest thrust gently.
"She coughed and the colour flooded back, and she started to sob. I scooped her in my arms and gave her lots of cuddles. She was in shock."
Mrs Walters said that when she collected her daughter, Iliya ran up to her and said "Rebecca saved my life".
Ms Kersten urged everyone to take first-aid training.
"Before then, I had only ever used it for cuts and things. It just kicked in instinctively - I did things in the order I was taught, and I kept calm. Afterwards I was shaking, the adrenaline kicked in but I was just so happy when I knew she was okay."
Iliya Walters, 6 left, mum Lee Walters and Rebecca Kerston. Photo/George Novak
Cindi Lett, centre manager of Coast Kids, praised the actions of her staff member.
Mrs Walters said Iliya, though shocked and quiet, had been checked by a doctor and there was no damage. She said that she had never considered the choking risk of candy canes before.
"They are thin, sticky and have bits that just break off, so thinking about it, it would be quite easy for a young child to choke on. From now on they are banished from my house."