When PC Dec Gabriel went to investigate a burglary, he didn’t realise he was about to save a baby's life.
The Constable from Northamptonshire Police was on a “burglary containment” on Saturday night when he “saw a lady screaming on the phone”.
The woman’s 12-month-old daughter, Chloe, was choking and after identifying himself as a police officer, Mr Gabriel went into the young child’s room and cleared her airway by “scooping her tongue out.”
He then took her to Northampton General Hospital where he “ran in A&E and handed the baby to a trauma team” who proceed to tell him that he had saved baby Chloe’s life.
The constable took to Twitter to share exactly how the extraordinary events unfolded:
Was on a burglary containment tonight in plain clothes when I saw a screaming lady on the phone... Identified myself as police and she >>
— PC Dec Gabriel (@decers89) February 21, 2015
Told me her baby had fitted and stopped breathing.... Ran upstairs, emergency first aid, scooped tongue out and carried baby to my police>>
— PC Dec Gabriel (@decers89) February 21, 2015
car... Ran into A+E and handed baby to a trauma team who have just told me I have saved baby Chloe's life... She's 12 months old >>
— PC Dec Gabriel (@decers89) February 21, 2015
Head of the National Police Coordination Centre, Commander Chris Greany, congratulated the officer via Twitter, saying: "No Oscar, goodybag, bright lights & front pages... but one day an adult will say, because of you I'm here today."
.@KayBurley @decers89 no Oscar, goodybag, bright lights & front pages...but one day an adult will say, because of you I'm here today..
— Chris Greany (@CmdrChrisGreany) February 22, 2015
However, PC Gabriel took it all in his stride and modestly tweeted: "It was all about... teamwork, good training, good timing, and some luck!"
@ChronandEcho Thank you. It was all about @NorthantsPolice and @EMASNHSTrust Teamwork, good training, good timing, and some luck!
— PC Dec Gabriel (@decers89)
As more and more lives are being saved by quick thinking acts it highlights the important of being able to do basic first aid.