Kannur, Kerala September 20, 2025 — An eight-year-old girl named Fatima, from Pallikkara, Pazhyangadi, Kannur district, regained her ability to breathe after a group of bystanders intervened to dislodge chewing gum lodged in her throat. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening and highlights the importance of first aid awareness among the public.
CCTV footage showed the young girl riding a bicycle near a vegetable shop when she suddenly appeared to choke after chewing gum. She cycled toward several young men standing across the road, evidently seeking help. Noticing her distress, one of the youth named Ismail, rushed forward to assist.
He quickly used a back-blow technique, similar to the Heimlich maneuver, to clear her airway. Another youth aided by monitoring her breathing and supporting her posture. On the second attempt, they successfully dislodged the gum, and the child began breathing normally again. Ismail reports that her eyes had reddened and she was unable to draw proper breaths before the intervention.
After the rescue, the girl appeared to recover without immediately reported complications. Kerala General Education Minister V. Sivankutty shared the video of the incident on his Facebook page, praising the youths for their presence of mind.
The first aid steps taken by the youths match standard emergency measures for choking:
Encouraging the person choking to cough if possible
If unable to cough, breathe, or speak, applying back blows or abdominal thrusts (also known as the Heimlich maneuver) to dislodge the obstruction
These techniques are taught in many first aid and CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation) training programs. Timely action can prevent airway obstruction, which if left unaddressed can lead to oxygen deprivation, loss of consciousness, brain injury, or in severe cases, death.
Social media applauded the child about the fact that she did not panic and sought help from passersby rather than trying to remove the gum herself or blindly running home. This decision likely enabled external assistance quickly.
Youthful training or exposure: One of the rescuers later said that he had watched first aid training videos online and acted according to it.
Choking hazards in children include small objects or foods, but chewing gum can also become dangerous if it enters the throat improperly.
Early intervention by bystanders can be lifesaving; basic first aid knowledge for choking is essential.
Having public awareness campaigns about how to respond to choking can reduce delays in critical moments.
Following the rescue, community members and the media praised the youth who intervened. Many commented that such rescue actions underscore the need for first aid skills to be more widely taught, especially in schools.
(Rh/Eth/TL/MSM)