A mother has revealed the astonishing moment a stranger leaped through a cafe window to save the life of her eight-month-old daughter.
Kahla Hilton, from Wagga Wagga in NSW, was having lunch with a friend when her little girl Lukah nearly choked to death on a pram teething garland on April 11.
The 37-year-old mother quickly realised a bead from the ‘baby safe’ product – which usually hangs across her pram to chew on – was lodged at the back of her throat.
But moments later, quick-thinking man Steve Barker, who was having a business meeting at a nearby cafe, sprung into action after he heard screams for help.
As the adrenaline kicked in, Mr Barker intervened with back blows before the bead eventually fell out of her mouth.
Mother Kahla Hilton, 37, was at a cafe when her eight-month-old daughter Lukah nearly choked to death on a pram teething garland (pictured together)
![The 37-year-old mother quickly realised a bead from the 'baby safe' teething garland (pictured in her hand) - which usually hangs across her pram to chew on - was lodged down her throat](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/04/18/01/4B4393D300000578-5627923-image-a-40_1524012407968.jpg)
The 37-year-old mother quickly realised a bead from the ‘baby safe’ teething garland (pictured in her hand) – which usually hangs across her pram to chew on – was lodged down her throat
Since the terrifying ordeal, Ms Hilton told Daily Mail Australia she has been having sleepless nights.
‘I’m still struggling to sleep. And still extremely clingy with bub,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.
The mother-of-three said she wanted to issue a warning to other families.
‘I had an experience that I’m calling the scariest of my life. It’s a long story, a wild ride, but if you can hold on until the end I promise it has a good ending,’ she wrote in a Facebook post.
Ms Hilton said her daughter was ‘happily’ eating a Rusk biscuit when things took a turn for the worse.
‘I was out to lunch with a girlfriend, we’d just ordered, and were sitting, talking as we normally would. I had Lukah in her pram next to me, and she was munching on a Rusk quite happily. Or so I thought,’ she said.
‘I turned to look at her and noticed she had something in her mouth, and at first thought it was the end of her dummy chain, which she often chews on… until I remembered she didn’t have her dummy chain on.
‘About a split second later I realised that it was a bead from her teething garland, which has been hanging across her pram for months for her to chew on.
‘I quickly put my finger in the side of her mouth and got the bead out, and then I saw that she had another bead in there, half way down her throat. I started to panic, she was choking, and I froze.’
As her daughter quickly turned a shade of blue, the terrified mother made desperate pleas for help.
‘As she went from pink, to red, to blue, I screamed at the top of my lungs for someone to help. People rushed from every direction of the cafe and a couple of them attempted to help,’ Ms Hilton said.
‘The cafe owner called emergency services as I continued to scream like an absolute crazy person. My baby was going to die, that’s all I could think about.’
Miraculously, quick-thinking man Steve Barker, who was having a business meeting at a nearby cafe, rushed to the family’s aid as he jumped through the window.
‘My loud screaming got the attention of people throughout the mall, including one man, who ran across the car park, jumped through the open window, scooped Lukah up and had her in a downward position and giving her blows to the back within what seemed like half a second,’ she recalled.
‘This man was ex-military, and he saved my baby’s life. I owe him everything.’
![By sharing the story, the mother wanted to warn fellow parents about the dangers of the beaded teething products (pictured lying across Lukah's lap) despite its safety labels](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/04/18/01/4B4393D700000578-5627923-image-m-42_1524012444922.jpg)
By sharing the story, the mother wanted to warn fellow parents about the dangers of the beaded teething products (pictured lying across Lukah’s lap) despite its safety labels
Speaking to The Daily Advertiser, Mr Barker, who was in the Royal Air Force for 26 years, said he was a little shaken after he managed to get the bead out.
‘Afterward I was a bit shaky – I thought to myself that jeez this really could’ve turned out a different way,’ Mr Barker said.
‘I’m chuffed about how it all turned out.’
The family spent the rest of the day in hospital to make sure the girl was in good condition as the mother thanked Mr Barker for his help.
‘We spent the rest of the day at the hospital. There were X-rays and check ups galore. We weren’t certain which way the bead went, so we had to be extra safe,’ she said.
‘Lukah has woken in her usual happy mood today, I haven’t slept yet. I’m paranoid. I can’t get the image out of my head. And I can’t stop thinking that if that man wasn’t there the outcome would’ve been a lot worse. He really is a superhero.’
She said despite attending a baby first aid course just weeks before the incident, she was unable to help her daughter.
‘I attended a baby first aid course a few weeks ago, and in this instance I was unable to help my daughter with what I learnt in that course,’ Ms Hilton explained.
‘In this instance, we were lucky. Lukah definitely had a guardian angel watching over her yesterday. I would hate to hear of this happening to anyone else, especially if the outcome is worse. Be safe. Get rid of them, or give them a good check over if you want to continue using them.
‘Before I get any negative feedback for my parenting. I have raised two teenagers without incident. And I’m most definitely an attentive and careful mother. Those who know me can attest to that.’
By sharing the story, the mother wanted to warn fellow parents about the dangers of the beaded teething products despite its safety labels.
‘I don’t put blame on anyone for this happening. Not at all. But I do want to slap myself silly for putting so much trust in a piece of string. Never again,’ she said.
‘Everything made with teething beads has been thrown out. And I highly recommend all parents consider doing the same.
‘If you’ve ever purchased one of these products, you’ll notice that they all mention the safety procedures they’ve been made under, which is there to make parents feel comfortable.
‘But if you read further, you’ll notice in most cases there’s also a disclaimer, that no responsibility will be taken in the case of injury or death. Death!
‘I can’t force people to stop buying these products, and that was not my intention. If you find a company that follows safety standards and you are comfortable buying from them then that is each parents choice.
‘I have shared my story so that my conscience would not be guilty if someone else is negatively affected by one of these products.’