Two Tameside response officers praised for saving the life of a seven-year-old girl

Yesterday (Wednesday 29 November) emergency services were called to an address in Tameside where they found a young girl who was struggling to breath and coughing up blood after choking on a sweet.

Police Constables Aaron Kincaid and James Blundell were first on the scene. To the huge relief of the girl’s understandably hugely distressed parents, PC Kincaid utilised his first aid training to full effect, successfully dislodging the sweet from the girl’s throat and helping to calm her down before paramedics arrived.

Whilst PC Kincaid tended to the child, PC Blundell did everything he could to help the parents remain calm. Upon arrival, paramedics took over and the young girl was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Superintendent Mike Walsh from GMP Tameside district said: “PCs Aaron Kincaid and James Blundell acted without hesitation during the incident and took control of the situation that they were faced with.

“They deserve every credit for staying calm under extreme pressure and for working together as a team and utilising their training to lifesaving effect. I am sure the girl’s parents and family will consider the officers to be absolute heroes.

PC Kincaid said: “We're both glad that we were in the right place at the right time.

“I have a daughter the same age as the little girl who needed our help, and I cannot tell you how much of a relief it was when she started breathing normally and said she was okay after I had managed to dislodge the sweet.

“I remember saying, ‘Thank God for that’.

“The little girl gave me a thank you hug before she went to hospital, but I couldn’t have done what I did without PC Blundell’s assistance. It was a real team effort.”