A PENSIONER who collapsed in a pub has hailed the

quick-thinking landlord who saved his life a hero.

George Brooks, 85, was enjoying a meal with his family on

Friday when he started to choke on his food.

He slumped on to the table in front of him, at the Half Moon

pub in Littleover, and stopped breathing.

Landlord Paul Brailsford saw what had happened and reached

into Mr Brooks' mouth.

He pulled out his false teeth before dislodging a lump of

steak that was stuck in his throat.

He then performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the

great-grandfather-of-three, reviving him as paramedics

arrived.

Mr Brooks, who suffered a heart attack six weeks ago, was

taken to Derbyshire Royal Infirmary where he underwent checks

before being allowed home.

Yesterday, the former Rolls-Royce worker, of Dentdale Court,

Alvaston, came face-to-face for the first time with the man who

saved his life.

He said: “This man is a hero to me.

“I remember ordering steak and I couldn't have chewed it

enough before I swallowed it because I remember it getting

stuck.

“I tried to swill it down with a mouthful of beer but this

made it worse.

“I must have passed out because all I remember after that

was the ambulance and my wife, daughter and son-in-law being

there.

“I am very grateful to Paul for all that he did as without

him I wouldn't be here.”

Mr Brailsford, 49, of Severnvale Close, Allestree, has been

in charge at the Half Moon for the past two years.

He said: “It was about 2.15pm on Friday and one of the

waitresses came rushing into the kitchen saying that an older

man had collapsed.

“I ran out and he was slumped over the table.

“He had stopped breathing and his lips and tongue were

purple.

“I pulled out his false teeth, then reached for this piece

of meat that was stuck in his throat before performing

mouth-to-mouth on him.

“It didn't work at first but then he took a deep breath just

as the ambulance crew arrived.”

Mr Brooks' wife of 63 years, Nora, a former cook at Alvaston

Junior Community School, said she feared the worst when she saw

her husband collapse.

The 84-year-old said: “I thought it was the end.

“I saw George have a stroke seven years ago and then a heart

attack just six weeks ago and this looked far worse than both

of them.”

At the time of the incident, Mr Brooks was with his

daughter, Mary Palmer, and her husband, 64-year-old

self-employed kitchen fitter, Alan Palmer.

He also has a granddaughter, 33-year-old Charlotte Palmer

and three great-grandchildren George Palmer, 13, a pupil at

Noel-Baker School, Jack, 11, and Katie, six, who attend Oakwood

Junior School.

Mr Brooks said: “We don't go out very much, but I'll

certainly go back to the Half Moon again so that I can enjoy a

meal properly next time.”

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