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Speeding ticket saved my 12-year-old son’s life when he started choking on a bottle cap – I escaped paying the fine
The young boy turned blue, was spitting up blood, and thought he was going to die, his mom recalled
A MOM believes getting pulled over for speeding may have saved her son's life - as the cop writing her ticket rushed to the rescue when the boy nearly choked to death on a bottle cap.
Husband and wife Burton and Natasha Brooks had only just landed at Detroit Airport in Michigan when they were pulled over by a police officer for breaking the speed limit.
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Hopeful they could avoid a ticket, 49-year-old Burton handed over his license and registration to the cop - but then the pair's son Vaughn Brooks began slapping the back of his mom's chair.
Natasha quickly realized her 12-year-old son was choking as he desperately clutched at the base of his throat.
The 41-year-old company owner sprinted out the side of the car to help Vaughn as he frantically pointed at his water bottle to signal he had swallowed the cap.
The quick-thinking police officer, who was in the process of writing them a speeding ticket, dialed 911 and urgently requested for an ambulance.
Read more on choking
Vaughn was rushed to Toledo Hospital in Ohio where he underwent an operation to surgically remove the bottle cap, which had become lodged down his throat.
Natasha, who is also mom to 17-year-old Carter and 8-year-old Saxon, said the cop felt so bad about the incident he waived the fine.
However, the mum admits she feels strangely grateful the family were pulled over for speeding as the officer may have saved her son's life.
Natasha, who lives in Naples, Florida, said, "We were 10 minutes into the journey and saw blue lights and sirens behind us. We weren't really going that fast so thought we might be able to get out of it.
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"The cop pulled us over and asked for our licence and registration.
"He goes back to his own car to write us a ticket then my son starts banging on the back of my seat and clutching at his throat like he's choking.
'HE TURNED BLUE'
"I thought he was going to die because he couldn't get any air. I was screaming and crying.
"He had the water bottle in his hand and kept pointing at his throat and I realised the cap was lodged down his throat. He turned blue.
"He had been opening the top of the bottle with his mouth. He had fully swallowed it. It was in the base of his neck.
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"We all started running out of the car and the cop was so confused wondering why we were all jumping out of the car so he came over.
"My son could still breathe but not well. He was choking - he was spitting and crying, he was so upset. The cop called an ambulance who came to the side of the road and looked at him.
"I was thinking maybe the officer could do the Heimlich [manoeuvre] because they're trained for this but he ended up just getting us an ambulance.
"I thought he was going to die because he couldn't get any air. I was screaming and crying.
Mom Natasha Brooks
"The cop ended up not writing us a ticket because he felt so bad about what happened. It was good he was there to help us. I feel strangely grateful we were pulled over."
Vaughn was rushed to hospital where he underwent an operation to have the bottle cap surgically removed from his throat.
Natasha said the incident has made her more aware of the dangers of bottle caps around children.
Natasha said, "There was no chance of getting it out any other way but surgery. He was spitting up blood because it was cutting the inside of his throat. He was really scared, he thought he was going to die.
"We had to wait for a surgeon to come in and ended up having this thing lodged down his throat for seven hours.
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"Those bottle caps are so small and kind of flat so it's very easy to swallow. As a parent this is your worst fear: seeing your child choking and not being able to help them.
"Those things are so dangerous. I get freaked out every time my kids drink out of water bottles now."
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