Bus driver saves choking baby's life

A bus driver has been hailed a hero after saving the life of a choking baby on his way to work.

Steve Plank, a Brighton and Hove Bus Company driver, was a passenger on a Denton to Newhaven Compass service when he saw the four-month-old baby in trouble.

The boy's mother was desperately trying to get her baby to breathe again before Steve jumped in.

Father-of-two Steve, 50, said he remembered his first aid training from his time as a football coach and said he did not think he was a hero.

Speaking to The Argus, he said: "The mum was shaking the baby and saying 'wake up, wake up'.

"I just put my fingers under his chest and I had freezing cold hands so that might have been a shock to the system.

"I pumped his chest three times then I thought the baby moved a bit so I did it again and he jumped.

"I used to run a boys' football team and did some first aid training and it stuck in my mind ever since.

"I don't think I'm a hero. I'm just glad the baby's fine."

According to the Eastbourne Herald, a spokesman for the South East Coast Ambulance Service said: "We were called to a Compass Bus at the junction of Acacia Road and Denton Rise at 9.20am to reports of a baby boy with breathing difficulties.

"An ambulance car was on the scene within a couple of minutes then was joined by an ambulance crew.

"The baby was taken to the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital.

"We are always extremely grateful when anyone helps to resuscitate patients prior to our arrival."

The baby made a full recovery in hospital.

According to the Mirror, Steve's boss said: "Steve doesn't really want to go down as a hero but we're celebrating him as one here."