A coffee shop manager said motherly instinct kicked in as she saved the life of a young boy.
Sally Malkin stopped the child she estimates to have been around two-years-old from choking on Thursday, March 20.
The 58-year-old is the manager of the Coffee Pot at Johnson Community Hospital in Spalding.
“I saw the mum with the child and thought he was being sick, so I went to get a cloth,” she said. “When I came back I saw he was choking.
“I got hold of him and started hitting him on the back but all of a sudden he went limp and his lips turned blue so I knew his airways were blocked.
“I got him over my knee and started hitting him until boiled sweets came out.
“The motherly instinct just kicked in. He was fine. He started crying, bless him.
“But I went over to Urgent Treatment Centre about 10 minutes later and he was sat their playing on his phone as if nothing had happened. He’s a very brave little boy.”
Sally said the boy’s mother thanked her and only noticed the nurses had arrived after it was all over.
She has two grown up children, including daughter Laura who also works at the café and who spoke about how brave her mum was.
“She said she couldn’t believe how calm I was,” Sally said. “But it was all just a bit of a blur.
“It was just instinct that kicked in.
“I’ve worked in retail since I was 16 so I’ve plenty of first aid training including from St John’s Ambulance.
“I always wanted to learn it, especially if I ever needed it for my children.
“Thankfully I haven’t until now.”
Both hospital colleagues and regulars to the café have brought cards and chocolates for Sally following the incident.
The Coffee Pot is owned by Welbourne’s Bakery which is based in Navenby.
