9 hours ago
Pontypool dad nearly choked to death at Father's Day meal
Derek Parker, 66, had been enjoying a special meal with his family at the Harvester restaurant in Pontypool on Sunday, June 15. However, this joyous occasion took a turn for the worst when Derek started choking on a mouthful of his steak.
Luckily for Derek the Pontypool community helped him and his family during this frighting ordeal.
The Parker family out for a family meal (Left dad Derek Parker 66 with wife Susan Parker 67) (Right daughter Amy Parker 30 and brother Matthew Parker 31) (Image: Amy Parker) Speaking of the traumatic experience Derek said: 'I had the steak and on my second mouthful I couldn't get it back up.
'Our son (Matthew) did the Heimlich manoeuvre on me and managed to dislodge some of it. He has Autism, so he did very well but he was afraid he'd hurt me, but I was still choking.'
Derek continued: 'Apparently this little boy ran up to his mother and said a man has fallen down and a woman came over. She was an off-duty nurse.'
Thankfully for Derek and his family, the off-duty nurse was in the right place at the right time.
Derek Parker and Wife Susan Parker outside their Pontypool home with a card and bunch of flowers gifted to them by the Pontypool Harvester team. (Image: NQ) Derek explained: 'She took over and I remember someone saying to me can you open your eyes, can you open your mouth. I couldn't do either.
'The next thing I remember was them lifting me into the ambulance and I had a quick scan in the Grange, and I was rushed up stairs for surgery.'
Staff at the hospital thought the food had penetrated Derek's lungs.
Rapidly responding to the incident, doctors performed an emergency surgery on Derek to help flush any food, vomit or blood out of his lungs.
Derek has since fully recovered from the incident.
The card written to Derek and his family from the Pontypool Harvester team. (Image: NQ) Derek's daughter Amy Parker, 30, witnessed her father choking in front of her.
She told the Argus her account of events. 'It's a horrible feeling on any day but especially on Father's Day. I thought my dad was dying in front of me.
'At one point I could see he was coughing. I kept saying are you okay? Do you need a drink? Then the drink came through his nose, and he started turning blue. I was panicking.
'I couldn't remember how to do the Heimlich manoeuvre so I shouted out can somebody help.'
Amy continued: 'Everyone was so helpful, one woman named Amelia helped calm my brother outside, another man named Stephen offered to pay for our meal which Harvester gave us for free.
'Louise the nurse was brilliant, she talked to the 999 operator and was telling me different things and reassuring me.'
The family are incredibly grateful for the support given to them through this terrible ordeal.
Derek said: 'I want to thank all the people involved. Many people moved their tables for me because I was on the floor. I was lucky.'
Amy added: 'I will forever be grateful for everyone's help and support that we received during this difficult time.
'From the moment he started choking, up until when he got discharged the following evening, we could not fault the care and support we received.
'I genuinely thought I'd lose my dad on that day, but I'm so thankful he's still here with us, and that's down to all the action and care we received during this difficult time.'
