A squaddie who saved the life of a four-year-old boy who was choking on a chicken nugget at an Aberdeen Burger King said he was just “in the right place at the right time”.
Royal Scots Dragoon Guard, Kain Strangward, 28, from Aberdeen, said that it was by sheer coincidence that he was there to help but was “very glad” that he could .
Four-year-old Freddie Gordon, a twin, was at the Queens Link Burger King on Thursday afternoon with mum Vicki Thompson, dad Adrian Gordon, baby brother Tommy, eight weeks, and twin Alfie when he started to choke on his chicken nugget.
Quick thinking Mr Strangward, who works in cavalry reconnaissance, said: “It is the only time that a cigarette has ever saved someone’s life.
“I don’t normally go to Burger King, and I always smoke inside my car. So when I stepped out for a cigarette and I heard the screams, I ran over to help.
“It was the worst day, because as soon as you take over that person’s life it is in your hands, and this was a child.
‘I ran over and I grabbed him’
He continued: “I ran over and grabbed him, and I told his mum to phone an ambulance. I checked his airway and hit him on the back a couple of times.
“That didn’t work, so I got him onto my knee and I hit him a few more times.
“I didn’t get it out, but it must have dislodged it as he started breathing. I knew we could wait for the ambulance. I didn’t want to do any more in case it caused him more harm. Shortly afterwards Freddie brought the chicken nugget up himself.”
Mr Strangward describes feeling relieved that he was able to help. Having no formal training to aid someone when choking, he said it was something that he learned in Army training.
But, amazingly, it is not the first time Mr Strangward has helped someone. He was awarded the Commanding Officer’s Coin for Excellence in 2018 after saving the life of a German national, while he was on deployment in the country.
Miss Thompson, who also has two older boys Aiden, 19, and Harvey 13, said: “Kain is my hero, and he is Freddie’s guardian angel.
A family treat soon turned into a nightmare
“We got the boys out of nursery and we were on our way to the park when it started raining. So we decided to go to Burger King.
“We don’t normally go to the restaurant- so it was a bit of a treat.” But very quickly it turned into what Miss Thompson, 35, describes as a “nightmare”.
“Just as we parked up and I was dishing out the food from the back seat, I realised that Freddie had grabbed a chicken nugget and he was choking.
“He managed to tap his dad on the arm, otherwise we would not have known.”
In what seemed like hours, but was in fact only a few seconds, the couple saw their son, who was in the front seat turn a “funny colour” as they desperately tried to get him out the car.
“I thought he was dying, I was thinking ‘any second now he is going to pass out’, his mum said. “I was in sheer panic at his colour, he was grey then blue.
‘I was just praying he would be well’
“It seemed like so long, it was the longest wait, and I was just praying he would be well.”
Both Miss Thompson and Mr Gordon performed the Heimlich maneuver, but said it did not shift the chicken nugget.
In sheer desperation Mr Gordon then let out a huge scream, alerting people in the Aberdeen restaurant that the couple needed help.
Miss Thomson said: “And before I even knew it, Kain was there to help. He told me to phone 999, and he took over.
“He tried the same as we had with the Heimlich, and then a woman told him to try putting Freddie on his knee.
“He hit him again, and this time he dislodged it, he wasn’t breathing, but he was taking little gasps.”
“He then just got it out himself, as the ambulance arrived. Freddie went to hospital where they said he was fine, but to take it easy.”
Don’t hesitate – ring 999
Miss Thompson continued: “When I put Freddie to bed that night, it hit me hard. I just thought if it wasn’t for Kain, things could have been very different.”
She gave advice to other parents: “If you find yourself in a similar situation phone 999 immediately. Do not hesitate. Do not wait.
“You can cancel an ambulance, you can never replace a child. Those seconds are the difference between life and death.”
She joked: “Kain can not be everywhere – but he saved our son and he will always be our hero, and Freddie’s guardian angel for ever.”