Security guard hailed a hero for saving choke victim's life

Jess Shearer was unconscious after choking on a hot dog when Dave Love arrived on the scene at her nursery on the Heriot-Watt University campus.

He managed to dislodge the piece of food and resuscitate the youngster before paramedics arrived.

The girl's mother, Maggie Shearer, who works for the university's academic registry service, has praised Mr Love's quick-thinking which saved her daughter and Mr Love has now been given an award for his actions.

Jess, whose ordeal was made worse by the fact she has enlarged tonsils and had a throat infection at the time, spent three days in hospital but made a full recovery following the drama in June.

Mrs Shearer, 41, said: "The hot dog was cut up into pieces but she had never had one before and had never experienced the texture and I think it just slipped down her throat. It was a combination of that and the enlarged tonsils and throat infection.

"Everyone did everything they were supposed to do but she wasn't responding to the first aid.

"I was in a state of disbelief and shock. When Dave Love heard what happened he drove over here and was the first of the security team on the scene.

"He dislodged the food and gave her first aid in terms of resuscitating her and looking after her. By the time the paramedics arrived she was breathing again and crying."

She added: "I'm absolutely chuffed to bits that Dave's been honoured by the university for what he did.

"It says a lot about the university to recognise somebody in what was an individual, private matter and give them an award."

The university's principal, Professor Steve Chapman, presented Mr Love with an award for "pursuing excellence" as part of the annual Spirit of Heriot-Watt Awards which acknowledged his actions as "quick, decisive, professional and instinctive".

The incident happened during a sports days at Pinocchio's Nursery, based within the grounds of Heriot-Watt.

Mrs Shearer was standing behind her daughter when she started choking on the piece of hot dog she was eating. Although nursery staff administered first aid, Jess didn't respond and fell unconscious.

She only regained consciousness when Mr Love, 39, arrived on the scene.

The father-of-one, who is fully trained in first aid, is delighted to have had his efforts recognised by his employers.

He said: "I have given a lot of first aid but that was the first time I have ever saved a life and it's quite scary to think about it, with it being a child."