Postie is first-class hero

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http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/black ... 3811187.jp

A HERO postman who saved the life of a baby while on his rounds is in line for a national bravery award.
Derek Neave gave little Tia Hine the kiss of life after the tot's heart stopped beating.

And today – three months after carrying out his dramatic rescue –the pair were reunited.

Tia's mum Terri is delighted to hear Derek has reached the regional finals of the Royal Mail First Class People Awards.

"The more recognition Derek gets the better, he has done a major thing for my family," said Miss Hine, of Westhead Way, Fleetwood.

"Tia's heart stopped and I'm convinced she would have died."

Derek, 37, dropped his mailbag and jumped into action to give baby Tia essential first aid as he passed Miss Hine's home in November.

Tia fell unconscious after her hands began to shake, her eyes rolled and she stopped breathing.

The tot suffers from an extreme case of "breath holding".

Using training he received as a retained fireman, Derek gave Tia, who is now 17 months old, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation which got her heart beating again.

His actions helped keep Tia alive until ambulance crews reached the scene.

She was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital where she made a full recovery.

Afterwards Derek of Devon Avenue, Fleetwood, said: "It's just my job. It was something I was trained at.

"Terri came out shouting 'my baby, my baby'. I couldn't just walk on by.
"When I got inside there were four or five people in the hallway standing round a child on the floor."

Derek immediately began chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth and it was approximately a minute and a half before Tia regained consciousness.

Despite Tia's recovery problems have not ended for Miss Hine who has discovered that Tia suffered from an extreme case of "breath holding."

She said: "When she gets really upset she goes to an extreme level, she holds her breath and knocks herself out. That time she just took it too far and her heart stopped beating.

"Normally I'd have to pick her up and blow in her face and she's OK. They say she will grow out of it in two or three years.

"But right now I'm up three or four times a night just making sure she is still breathing."

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Last Updated: 25 February 2008 9:25 AM