Katana’s Josh Smith, a bartender, saved the life of a baby at the restaurant, according to The Peterborough Telegraph.
Josh Smith, 32, reacted swiftly last Sunday when he heard the distressed cries of a mother whose 20-month-old child, Khalil, was choking on a bottle cap.
With experience gained from previous roles including coastguard, outdoor activities instructor, and artillery gunner, Josh used his first aid knowledge effectively.
“I heard shouts of ‘he’s choking, he’s choking.’ I just had to step in,” said Josh. “I ran over, placed the baby over my leg, and started with back slaps until the airways were clear.”
Josh removed the bottle cap stuck in Khalil’s throat, allowing the baby to breathe properly again.
Reflecting on the incident, Josh emphasized the importance of first aid training: “I was worried my training was out of date, but something like this just shows how important taking a course and having the knowledge is.”
Since the rescue, Josh has received praise from both colleagues and customers, culminating in a special thank-you at the restaurant.
Restaurant owner Prem Devkota expressed gratitude for Josh’s quick reaction: “This was a very unfortunate incident and could have been so much worse had it not been for the quick reaction of our staff and Josh in particular.”
Josh, while appreciative of the recognition, remained modest: “It’s nice to have a little bit of acknowledgment, but I am taking it in my stride. I am grateful to have had the thanks of the family and that I could be there to make sure that Khalil could live another day.”
