TWO police officers who helped stop a girl from choking to death during a school assembly have been commended.

PC Gail Whiteoak and PC Eileen Smithson received letters of commendation from the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society for the help they gave at St Christopher's High School, Accrington, in January last year.

The officers were giving an anti-drugs presentation to year nine pupils when one of the students collapsed.

The officers immediately went to her aid, along with the class teacher, Susan Beilby.

PC Smithson said: "She was having trouble breathing and it appeared that she was having some kind of seizure."

While the teacher went to call an ambulance, the two Blackburn-based officers - who both work in schools and youth liaison and are trained first aiders - stayed with the girl.

PC Smithson saw the girl, who was 13, had stopped breathing and her teeth were clenched together. With PC Whiteoak's help, she prised the girl's teeth open with a pen and saw the girl's tongue had fallen back into her throat.

She pulled the tongue forward, which allowed the girl to start breathing again, and she had regained consciousness by the time paramedics arrived.

PC Whiteoak said: "You don't expect anything like this just for doing your job but it is so nice to get it."

School head Alasdair Coates said the girl had made a full recovery. He added: "We were relieved that there were first aiders in the form of the police officers and also that the teacher present had a medical background."

The officers received their awards at Blackburn police station, and Mrs Beilby was presented with a bouquet.

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