By Manisha Roy,News18

Copyright news18

A swift and calm response of a few alert bystanders saved the life of a young girl who was choking on a chewing gum in Kannur in Kerala on Tuesday.
As the girl appeared distressed, a group of men quickly administered first aid. The incident that happened in the Pallikkara area of Kannur was caught on camera.
The footage surfaced on Wednesday and has since gone viral, drawing widespread praise for the young men involved in the rescue.

The video shows the girl, standing beside her bicycle, placing chewing gum in her mouth. Moments later, she appears to be in distress. Spotting a nearby group of men who had stopped to buy vegetables on the opposite side of the road, she urgently pedals toward them and approaches one of them, the footage showed.
Realizing something was wrong with the child, one of the men immediately sprang into action. The video shows him lifting the girl, supporting her across his arm, and pressing on her back in an effort to dislodge the object. While another individual on a scooter nearby helped assist during the process.
Soon after, the chewing gum was expelled from her airway, and she was able to breathe normally again.
The brave and swift response by the local men have earned widespread appreciation on the internet. The locals also praised the girl’s presence of mind in seeking help from those nearby when she was in trouble.
Among those who acknowledged the young men’s heroism was Kerala’s General Education Minister V. Sivankutty, who wrote on Facebook: “In Pallikkara, Kannur, youngsters saved a child who was choking on chewing gum. Thank you.” Netizens hailed their quick response as life-saving.