A QUICK-thinking 13-year-old has become his brother's hero by saving him from choking to death on a 10p coin.

Todd and his brother Josh, 11, were cycling to the sweet shop on Sunday afternoon when Josh, who had been carrying his coins in his mouth because he did not have any pockets, began to choke.

"I couldn't breathe very well and I fell off my bike," said Josh, of Goathorn Close, Hamworthy.

"I was on my hands and knees on the grass at the side of the path. Todd looked at me and realised I was choking and straight away came and whacked me on the back.

"I doubt I would have survived if he hadn't hit my back."

Todd's smacks between the shoulder blades dislodged the coin and enabled Josh to breathe - he ended up swallowing the 10p, which had to be removed from his oesophagus in an emergency operation at Poole hospital.

Todd, who did a week of first aid at Turlin Moor Middle School three years ago, said: "I was really scared because he was choking."

His parents, Jo and Paul, said they are very proud of their son, who is now at Poole Grammar School, and will be buying him a present to say thank you.

"I'm a staff nurse at Poole Hospital and I work in intensive care, so I know what can happen," said Jo.

"I asked Todd jokingly why he didn't do the Heimlich manoeuvre, and he said, 'I would have done, but he started breathing!'

"He's such a good boy, they both are."

And Josh said he has learned a lesson from the experience.

"Granny told me to put money in my sock next time," he said.

First published: September 1