A GUIDE leader who saved the life of a choking woman in a caf was honoured with the highest national Guide Association award in a surprise ceremony.

Eighteen months ago Emma Strangwood was working in the kitchen of the Flying Dutchman, Leominster, when a customer on a day trip from Staffordshire began to choke on a piece of pork.

While customers looked on helplessly Betty Freakley stopped breathing.

"We tried everything from banging on her back to the Heimlich Manoeuvre but nothing was working," said Emma. "I told the ambulance officer over the phone that I thought you don't do mouth to mouth on a person who is conscious, but I was told it may get some air into her lungs to help get the food out.

Emma then performed her first mouth to mouth on a shocked and frightened Mrs Freakley, who was conscious throughout.

Frightened

"It had taken 20 minutes and her lips had turned blue before the food came out. It was so frightening afterwards but you don't think of that at the time."

Alive and well, Mrs Freakley was on hand at a recent Kingsland Guides and Brownies meeting at Coronation Hall to present Emma, a Guide leader for 10 years, with her Silver Cross award.

The Silver Cross is for outstanding action in a situation where life is endangered.

Nominations are considered in confidence behind closed doors by a special panel.

Mrs Freakley presented Emma with a hand-knitted jumper for her month-old baby boy Jesse.

"She said she wouldn't have missed being at the presentation for the world and that she wasn't put off coming back to Leominster," said Emma

heath.aston@newsquestmidlands.co.uk