Police officers save toddler Laura's life

It was then that PC Vikkie Ambrose and PC Steve Prince knew that they had saved 17-month old Laura's life.

This week Jacqueline Young spoke of her gratitude to the officers for their speedy action.

"It was brilliant! Absolutely brilliant."

The officers went into action as Laura began to choke on her own blood after falling in Hastings Road.

Jacqueline said: "Laura was on her reins. She fell down on her hands and knees. As you do a million times, I bent over to pick her up and say 'Come on, up you get...'

"But I tripped. It was one of those moments where you just lose your balance and can't right yourself.

"I picked her up but there was a lot of blood in her mouth and she couldn't breath.

"She was just choking on all this blood.

"Then police came round the corner as I was going back to my house.

"The driver looked across. He leapt out of the car and the next thing I knew he had taken her from me and was clearing her mouth.

"I couldn't get her to breathe. It was terrible."

PC Prince, who has a son of 20 months, said of Laura's plight: "She was red in the face- very red.

"You try not to panic. There was a lot of blood. I put my finger in her mouth. Once her airway was clear she began to cry.

"It was a lovely sound....!"

Following team practice, PC Ambrose had begun radioing for help while her colleague went to work on Laura. The ambulance arrived moments after PC Prince got Laura breathing again.

Ironically, the incident follows a letter to the Observer criticising the police for working in pairs.

PC Ambrose said: "We had all been a bit upset by the letter which said we walk around in pairs.

"We had literally just come back from Crown Court when we saw them."

All police officers are first-aid trained but PC Prince, who has five years police experience, attends an annual four-day advanced course at police headquarters.

PC Ambrose, who has 11 years police experience, said: "We joined the police to help help people. It was just luck that we were there when she needed us."

The ambulance took Laura to the Conquest for treatment to her face and for a check-up because she had stopped breathing.

Jacqueline said: "When we got home from the hospital she was eating her tea with no trouble at all.

"She has lost one tooth. The dentist said there was not a lot she could do.

"It could have been SO much worse...."

Inspector James Scott, of the Bexhill Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "Obviously, the officers concerned should be praised for their speedy action.

"It was a text-book response."