A doctor has shared the terrifying moment he saved his young son after the distressed toddler choked on a polystyrene ball.
Horrifying video showed the boy suddenly turning red before desperately trying to alert his dad that he could not breathe.
The youngster had been playing beside packaging containing polystyrene balls when one became lodged in his airway.
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His father, doctor Allysson Dângelo, immediately recognised what was happening and rushed to help.
After successfully dislodging the obstruction, the distraught father collapsed to the floor in relief.
It happened in São João del Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil, on Sunday, (12 July), as reported by Need To Know.
After the danger passed, Allysson said: “Today I lived, without a doubt, the worst moment of my life.
“Fortunately, thanks to basic life support training, I was able to recognise what was happening and perform the correct manoeuvres to clear the airway,” he said.
Despite being an experienced doctor and medical professor, he admitted saving his own child was emotionally overwhelming.
“At the end I collapsed,” he added.
“Not out of weakness, but because only at that moment did the penny drop of what could have happened.”
Allysson said he decided to publish the footage to raise awareness rather than shock viewers.
“It is not to cause an impact,” he said.
He warned that choking can happen to any child “in a matter of seconds” and urged parents, grandparents, teachers and carers to learn life-saving techniques.
“If you are a father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, teacher, caregiver or live with children, learn the choking manoeuvres,” he said.
“I sincerely hope that you never have to use them.
“But if one day they need it, this knowledge can be the reason for a child to breathe again.
“Today I hugged my son with the certainty that knowledge saves lives.”
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