Aberdeenshire schoolboy airlifted to hospital after swallowing £2 coin and 'vomiting blood'

A schoolboy from Aberdeenshire was airlifted to hospital after a swallowing a £2 coin that caused him to vomit blood.

Riley Chapman was learning how to toss a coin when the disc dropped into his mouth and slid down his windpipe last summer.

What started as a fun distraction turned into a race against time to save the eight-year-old’s life after he inhaled the coin in shock and began to struggle to breathe.

Riley’s mum, Nicolle Chapman, shared the “terrifying” experience which resulted in her son being airlifted to hospital by the Scottish Ambulance Service.

“We used the Heimlich manoeuvre on him and he said he had swallowed it completely and asked for a drink,” she said.

“I knew Riley would never pass something as large as a £2 coin so called my GP for advice. But while I was on the phone, the poor wee soul was sick and brought up the coin to lodge in his throat again.”

Aberdeenshire mother Nicolle Chapman and son, Riley. Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance

The mum-of-three was advised to dial 999 by the family doctor as she tried not to panic despite being terrified.

“I saw Riley struggling to breathe and couldn’t help him. It was really frightening,” the mum said.

A Scottish Ambulance Service road crew arrived within minutes but told Nicolle that her son had to be taken to hospital quickly but not in a road ambulance, which would take nearly an hour.

He was instead airlifted to hospital by Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA).

The offending coin had lodged itself at a 45-degree angle in Riley’s throat, allowing just enough space to get a little air through. Any movement, however, could have shifted it to completely choke the youngster.

Riley was walked slowly and carefully to the waiting helicopter, wearing an oxygen mask and being supported by the paramedics.

Nicolle said: “I knew then things were really serious and Riley was in real danger of suffocating if the coin moved again.

“We heard the helicopter coming in to land outside the house just as another SCAA paramedic arrived in a Rapid Response Vehicle.”

Clutching a SCAA teddy bear the crew had given him, Riley tried his best to comply with the paramedics’ instructions, but gag reflexes caused him to be sick several times, vomiting blood.

Nicolle praised the paramedics and said they were “so professional, comforting and efficient”.

She said: “Throughout the entire emergency, these young paramedics were focused on Riley – they weren’t going to let anything happen to him.

“I trusted them with my little boy – his life was in their hands.”

A ten minute flight saw SCAA land at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where Riley was taken into resus and then into theatre where surgeons were able to put him to sleep and slip a clamp down his throat to successfully capture the coin.

After a couple of hours in recovery, Riley was allowed to leave hospital “two pounds lighter”, as the family now joke.

“There are no words. How do you thank those who saved your little boy’s life in mere words?,” Nicolle said.

“Without SCAA and the helicopter crew that day we could have lost Riley. Every breath could have been his last were he not in their hands – a road ambulance journey on bumpy roads could have spelled disaster and that doesn’t bear thinking about.”

Riley’s parents, Nicolle and Gary, took Riley and their other two children to drop off piles of chocolate and goodies for the Helimed 79 team at Aberdeen to thank them for saving Riley’s life.

“Luckily, it was the same crew that was on duty, and they welcomed us in and showed us round, all delighted to see Riley looking well again,” Nicolle said.

“It was extremely emotional to meet up with them and try to thank them for what they had done.

“The previous day could have ended so differently, and Gary and I could have faced life with two children instead of three,” she added.

“SCAA is so vital in Scotland where remote and rural communities face long journeys to hospital care. I know many others owe their life to the speed and expertise of SCAA and I’m happy to join that group – they’re our heroes!”