Life-saver to get top award

THANKS . . . Nichola Crawley with her hero Rhys Wareing

AN Oldham woman owes her life to the swift action of a teenager who fortunately was trained in first aid and who was on hand to prevent her from choking to death in an Oldham street.

Today, 15-year-old Rhys Wareing of Hawksmoor Drive, Shaw, won the personal praise of Dick Wilkinson, secretary of the Royal Humane Society, who described him as having been “the right person in the right place at the right time”.

Mr Wilkinson was speaking at the society’s London headquarters as he announced that Rhys is to receive a Royal Humane Society certificate of commendation for his life-and-death battle in Manchester Road, Shaw, one morning last December to save the life of call centre manager Nichola Crawley, of Kendal Drive, Shaw.

“Fortunately Rhys is a qualified St John Ambulance first aider,” said Mr Wilkinson.

“He was walking to school when he was alerted by a woman in distress. She had stopped her car and had tried to stop a passing ambulance as she was choking.

“She was unable to speak but grabbed Rhys who immediately realised that her airway was blocked by an obstruction.

“He struck her three or four times between the shoulder blades and dislodged the obstruction. However, he is a qualified St John Ambulance first aider and was prepared, if this had failed, to carry out the more complicated Heimlich manoeuvre.

“But for Rhys this incident could have ended tragically. Put shortly he was the right person in the right place at the right time. He richly deserves the award he is to receive.”

No date has yet been fixed for presentation of the award which has been made on the recommendation of Royton and Crompton School where Rhys is a prefect, but it is expected to take place in the near future.