Heartbreaking picture of boy, 5, who nearly choked to death on a grape

A relieved dad has praised paramedics after they saved his little boy’s life when he choked on a grape.

Steve Hulbert posted a shocking picture of his five-year-old song Oli in a hospital bed surrounded by wires and machines following the terrifying incident.

Oli went limp and his lips turned blue after swallowing the fruit and later lost consciousness.

Steve feared his son was about to die but paramedics arrived and quickly dislodged the grape – almost certainly saving his life.

Posting an open letter to “shout from the rooftops” his praise for the paramedics and doctors who saved his life, Steve hailed the “true professionalism” of the emergency staff and said he will be “forever in their debt”.

The grateful father, who lives in Bristol, wrote on Facebook: “I want to shout thanks from the rooftops to the paramedics that arrived quickly enough to save Oli’s life.

“I want to share with everyone how the team at the hospital exceeded every possible expectation and delivered care, compassion and information with smiles and warmth.

“We are incredibly lucky to have this institution and the people that dedicate their lives to making ours better.”

In his Facebook post, Steve told how he and his wife Fiona called 999 on Sunday after “frantic” efforts to dislodge the grapes from Oli’s throat, which were choking him.

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He said the paramedics arrived just ten minutes after the 999 call – at which point the five-year-old had just lost consciousness.

Steve said: ”I ran to the ambulance carrying a limp boy with blue lips and wide, staring eyes, to hand him into the care of three incredible men.

“They immediately set to work with the ultimate calmness and efficiency that only true professionalism can bring.”

He said that after another ten minutes of fighting to save Oli, further support arrived from two more paramedic vehicles and an air ambulance.

And Steve added: “Then, in a moment that changed the course of our lives, they dislodged the grape and Oli sucked in air. His eyes came into focus and I dared to dream.”

The family of four were then transported by blue-lighted ambulance to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children – where Steve said the staff were ‘wonderful’.

He said: ”After our arrival at the hospital we saw three consultants, a paediatrician and countless wonderful, thoughtful and caring nurses.

“They looked after Oli, Feist [Fiona], Maia and I in the most unbelievable way.”

He added: “In recent times every media story has focussed on the crisis within the NHS.

“The lack of funding and the plunging staff morale have been used to create a picture of service on the brink.

“Today I want to celebrate all that is good with the NHS. We came very close to losing our little man, and I will be forever in their debt.”

The post ended: “Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”

Top pic: SWNS