A Brackenfell family’s world turned upside down in mere minutes, but thanks to the quick thinking and compassion of local firefighter Arlin Thielman, their nightmare ended happily.
What started as a typical Friday evening on 14 November quickly spiraled into every parent’s worst fear. Just before 21:00, when four-month-old Daniel felt slightly warm, his mother Miriam Pharoe gave him some Panado syrup. Within moments, little Daniel began choking.
“He was crying a lot and then started coughing severely and brought up a bit. I started tapping him on the back and my mother turned him around. But nothing helped,” she told TygerBurger on Friday morning.
Panic set in and with her husband being out at her son’s cricket match, she phoned emergency number 10111.
“It must have been the two longest minutes of my life while listening to a recorded voice, and still no one answered. As my husband walked through the door we set off for the hospital. Time seemed to slow down as every second felt like an eternity,” she says.
Two-hour wait in emergency room
As they drove past Reservoir Street, she told her husband to stop at the Brackenfell Fire Station in Ruwari, a decision that would prove life-saving.
“I stayed in the car with the baby while my mom and husband ran to ring the bell at the fire station door. The fireman immediately came out and in a flash he was at the car. His calmness was amazing and as he gave Daniel a big tap on the back he coughed up a big blob of phlegm. The doctor later told me that the Panado syrup went down the wrong passageway. Whatever it was he did, Daniel was stable afterwards. He tried to arrange for an emergency vehicle but as none was immediately available we rushed to hospital as he called ahead telling the emergency centre we were on our way.”
By the time they reached hospital, Daniel was coded from a code yellow to green. However, the family had to wait nearly two hours in the emergency room before Daniel was seen by a doctor.
“Those hours were excruciating as we yearned for the doctors assurance. It was only after my husband complained did they take him to be examined and to take an X-ray,” says Miriam.
God is good. He sends angels on your path.
During an emotional reunion on Wednesday, Miriam’s message to Thielman captured her gratitude. “Your help has really turned our situation around. Thank you … that five – 10 minutes of help, tapping him, showing us which position to keep him, reassuring us, calling for a rescue vehicle, the calls to CapeGate Mediclinic and the check in’s on our way and while we were at hospital, we appreciate it.”
“The enemy put so many attacks on a person’s life but God is good. He sends angels on your path. We are forever grateful that he opened the door, you never know … we live in crazy times. It could have been so different.”
Mayco member for safety and security in the City JP Smith, commended Thielman for his heroic actions. “This is such a heartwarming story, and we are very relieved that Daniel has made a full recovery. I want to extend my sincere appreciation to firefighter Thielman for his quick reaction, which was key to this very positive outcome. You are a credit to our fire and rescue service.”
