Asda worker praised by shoppers after 'hitting' toddler to save his life

An Asda employee has been applauded by customers for saving a little boy's life. The checkout worker stopped a toddler from choking on a gummy sweet by hitting his back multiple times.

The distressing incident took place in the Farnworth store in Bolton, when the boy, aged around two to three-years-old, had been shopping with his mum and got a gummy snake sweet he had brought into the supermarket stuck in his throat. Joanne Lang, who was working by the self-scan checkouts, quickly sprang into action and rushed to help the child, who was sitting in a trolley.

The boy was struggling to breathe and his face had turned red, but Joanne, who is a mum herself and is first-aid trained, knew what to do - leaning him forward and hitting him on his back, WalesOnline reports. She said: "It was just pure instinct. READ MORE: Ex-Gogglebox star Tom Malone Jr diagnosed with autism after 'feeling a bit different'

"It all happened very quickly, but at the time it seemed like forever. I saw the little boy out of the corner of my eye sitting in a trolley and knew straight away that something was wrong as his face was going red and he was having difficulty breathing.

"He wasn't coughing so I knew something was stuck." Explaining how she managed to save his life, she said: "I used the heel of my hand to hit him on the back a couple of times and the snake came out.

"I think he'd managed to swallow it whole and it got stuck. When it came out, the boy, who was aged about two or three, just looked at me with a massive grin on his face. It was such a relief that he was okay."

She continued: "His mum was in shock. She thanked me and then they left. I had a little breather and then went back to work."

Joanne, who has worked at the store for