A CARER has been praised for saving a 90-year-old woman from choking to death on a pork chop.

Grandmother Annie Cordingley was enjoying a home-cooked lunch when a piece of meat became lodged in her throat, trapping her airway.

Panicked and fighting for breath, the widow and retired midwife dialled 999, but could only gasp and was unable to speak to the operator.

Fortunately carer, Lauren Bond arrived at that very moment and was able to take over the call.

Paramedics arrived within minutes, dislodged the lump of meat and rushed Mrs Cordingley to Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI) where she swiftly recovered.

"If it wasn't for Lauren I'd be laid out in a coffin. She was magnificent," said Mrs Cordingley, of Bankfoot, Bradford.

"I thought, this is it, I'm dying.

"She's my lifesaver and I've thanked her over and over again."

Granddaughter Aimee Procter, a West Yorkshire police constable based in Bradford, told what happened.

"I'd been to see her for half an hour as I regularly do, especially after the recent death of her daughter, my mother," she said.

"She'd cooked herself a pork chop, which I then cut up into little pieces for her.

"Then I left her and went off to start work.

"The next thing was I got a call from Lauren to say what had happened and by the time I got there the paramedics had already arrived and it was all under control.

"It was just so lucky Lauren arrived when she did - at exactly the right moment."

Miss Bond, of Haworth, said it had been a terrifying time for Mrs Cordingley.

"She was choking very badly, couldn't breathe, had gone very white and was holding her chest," she said.

"By chance some paramedics were nearby and were there within two minutes.

"They made her sick and her colour came back, but they took her to BRI for a check-over and she was allowed to return home that afternoon.

"She's a wonderful lady, really happy and full of life who lives in a her own two storey house, does her own shopping and keeps her home spotless," said Miss Bond.

The 22-year-old works for Care 24-7 in Shipley, where she has now been nominated as employee of the month.