Four-year-old boy has dream ambulance visit nine months after coin swallowing scare

A four-year-old boy who was rushed to hospital under blue lights by the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) after swallowing a 10p piece has had his dreams come true with a visit to Chelmsford Ambulance Station.

Freddie Taylor was three when he started choking at his home in Chelmsford at 7pm last September.

His mum, Tara, who works in the NHS as a health visitor, knew immediately that Freddie had swallowed a 10p which had been meant for his piggy bank.

A friend phoned 999 after methods Tara learned from basic life support training of dislodging the coin failed. Freddie’s dad, Nick, also intervened but the coin was firmly lodged in Freddie’s throat.

The 10p was partially blocking Freddie’s airway which was affecting his breathing, and his face was turning blue.

Tara was able to check that he was still breathing and monitor his pulse while she waited for an ambulance to arrive. The ambulance crew also could not remove the coin and blue lighted Freddie to Broomfield Hospital with his dad by his side continuously.

X-rays showed the 10p had become lodged in Freddie’s oesophagus and he required laparoscopic surgery under general anaesthetic by an ENT consultant.

The 10p was successfully recovered and has been kept as a keepsake to show Freddie in years to come.

Freddie is lucky that the only lasting impact from the incident is an obsession with ambulances and doctors. This prompted Tara to approach the East of England Ambulance Service to arrange a visit to Chelmsford Ambulance station.

Freddie got shown around an ambulance by leading operations manager Steve Bennett, paramedic Savannah Radford and emergency medical technician Anna Fitzgeorge.

Tara Nice said:

“It was a dream come true for Freddie to visit Chelmsford Ambulance Station.

“Since the incident – which was the most stressful night of our lives – he has been obsessed with ambulances and doctors.

“A big thank you to everyone at the station for showing us around and to everyone at the ambulance service and Broomfield Hospital who took care of Freddie on that night.

“I would encourage everyone – especially parents – to learn basic life support and what to do in an emergency. You never know when you are going to need it.”

Steve Bennett said:

“It was an honour to show Freddie round Chelmsford Ambulance Station and we are all thankful he is showing no ill effects from the incident.

“We don’t always hear how a patient has done after handing them over at hospital and it is always very special when we hear of good outcomes like Freddie has had.”