“THEY saved my mum’s life.”

The words of a tearful woman as she thanked Huddersfield garden centre staff and a customer who stopped a pensioner from choking to death.

Mrs Karen Garbutt was full of praise for rescuers at the Rockwood Garden Centre at Grange Moor.

Cafe manager Julie and a customer stepped in as her 78-year-old mum, Mrs Elsie Bannon, was desperately choking on a piece of bread as they ate in the centre cafe.

She was unable to breathe and her lips had turned blue before Julie and the customer stepped in using the Heimlich manoeuvre and sharp back slaps to dislodge the food.

“There’s no doubt they saved her life,” said Mrs Garbutt.

“We had been unable to help her and there is no way an ambulance crew could have got to her in time.”

The drama happened as the North Lincolnshire family were visiting relatives in the Huddersfield area. They called at the garden centre in Wakefield Road and decided to stop off for something to eat in the cafe.

“We were having lunch when Elsie began to choke on a piece of bread that had become lodged in her throat.

“I and my daughters Ellie and Ebony tried in vain to help but it was getting worse.

“Ellie ran in to the kitchen to ask for a glass of water and told them her grandmother was choking.

“A girl came back out with her and a young man who had been in the garden centre also came over to help.

“They got hold of Elsie and by using the Heimlich manoeuvre and bending her right over and using sharp back slaps were able to dislodge the piece of food.

“It was absolutely terrifying.

“We were all in a state of shock. My mum’s lips had gone blue and I knew she had stopped breathing and was unable to take in any oxygen.”

She added: “We especially want to thank the lady who took charge of the situation and administered first aid, and the male customer who was visiting with his family and used his first aid skills to dislodge the food and enable gran to start breathing again.

“We want them to know how grateful we are. They saved our gran’s life.”

Centre owner Paul Glover said: “It was certainly very frightening.

“Julie did a great job with the Heimlich move but it was the young man who came over and said he had just done a first aid course who was the real hero.

“He undoubtedly saved her and then calmly walked away. We have no idea who he is. ”

Modest heroine Julie did not want her full name published. But do you know the mystery Good Samaritan customer? Contact the Newsdesk on 01484 437712.