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A CANDLELIT VIGIL has been held for two year old Jacob Jenkins, who is fighting for his life after choking on a grape in Pizza Hut.
The toddler is currently in an induced coma in Newcastle Royal Victoria Hospital.
The incident happened in Hartlepool, a town in North East England, on Friday night.
Since the news broke, hundreds of people have taken to social media to light a candle of hope for Jacob.
Jenkins mother, Abigail Wilson, and Father, David Jenkins, have thanked the public for their support.
Abigail Wilson told Hartlepool Mail that the family are overwhelmed by the support they have received from the community.
Thank you all still for every word, every picture and every prayer. So, so proud to be from Hartlepool, you bunch of amazing people!
While David Jenkins told the paper, “I just want to say thank you to the staff in Pizza Hut in particular the young girl who was the first aider and the two men from Vue cinema, staff at the Great North Air Ambulance, the James Cook Univeristy Hospital and the RVI.
Everyone was great and helped us the best they could, but the grape was stuck and the only way of getting it out was through the paramedics using surgical scissors.
A GoFundMe page has been set up by a family friend to try and cover domestic costs while the family are waiting for Jacob to recover. It states:
“This is Gofundme page setup for baby Jacob and his family who are going through unimaginable times every minute of everyday. While baby Jacob is fighting for his life his family will be at his bedside vigil 24/7.”
Jacob remains in a critical but stable condition.
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I hope to god he pulls through. This is my worst nightmare.
I think it’s every parents worst nightmare ,I hope the little lad pulls through .
+1 Michelle, I get the shivers down my spine just reading the headline!
I was doing my first aid refresher course yesterday.
One of the candidates showed me the St Johns Ambulance iphone app.
It’s free and is a great app to help anyone that isn’t a first aider to know what to do in an emergency.
It’s also great for first aiders, to keep them up to date and refreshed in the procedures.
All parents should have this app on their phone.
Oh please pull through… too much sadness! Poor family.
why would u receive thumbs down for this comment? ??? Some people are twisted. PG he’ll be ok.
Not twisted – a lot of people like to read the debates in the comment section. It can be frustrating scrolling through loads and loads of “Poor wee man” and “Poor little angel” and all such effusive comments that contribute little to the discussion section of these articles. Also some accidentally hit red. And anyway – who cares? A red icon means nothing. Why are you so bothered?
Poor little fella, hope he pulls through
Tragic ..Hope he pulls through.
poor little fella :(
hope you pull true little man
oh god I hope he is OK,the poor wee man.god be with you.
Talk about an absolute nightmare. You’d think at two he would be big enough that you wouldn’t have to cut up a grape. Just goes to show. He looks like my wee two year old – I can only imagine what they are going through. Prayers for a full recovery going their way.
That’s my question. If they are not liable would they not cover costs as a good will gesture. Drop in the ocean really. Or is it then a case where everyone will all of a sudden choke
It happened in England where they have the NHS so don’t think there would be any medical costs? Hope the poor boy makes a full recovery. So sad for his family.
It’s just a freak accident. Pizza Hut is not at fault.
It says they have set up a crowd funding page that’s all. Surely pizza hut could cover it
Not saying they are but surely their pr department is on top of this crowd funding thing. The fact we are having this discussion is not good for them. All I asked was does it leave them open to other claims. Some people should read before posting.
As Tadgh said it was a freak accident and no ones fault. The gofundme page has been set up to cover the family’s domestic costs not medical expenses. As a good well gesture Pizza Hut could make a donation but there is no onus on them to do so.
Pizza Hut would appear to have no negligence whatsoever here, in fact I think it is harsh on them that they are mentioned by name in the article, as they will inevitably be tainted by negative publicity. Or people full of suggestions about how their PR department should go into overdrive with ‘good will’. I noted they were singled out for thanks by the family.
Goodwill gestures by a business are only for when you’ve done something wrong and are trying to protect your brand. “Goodwill” is commonly listed as an asset on a company’s balance sheet and given a financial value like like a shop premises or a van.
Poor baby!
The title makes me believe that is Pizza Hut fault! When you read the story is not like that!!
Absolutely shocking story you never know really. A simple meal out of all things. Would pizza hut not cover all the Medical costs or are they then admitting liability?
why would pizza hut be liable here
I’d say they would be advised not to cover the bills , wouldn’t be a good move for them . even though it was a freak accident , pizza hut could still be in trouble here .
I’m not saying Pizza Hut are liable but I thought most companies had a policy to have someone trained in first aid on site at all times.I mean it’s not exactly beyond the bounds of imagination that someone might choke in a busy restaurant.Although I’d also expect any responsible parent to have at least basic first aid these days.
Not that it would have been guaranteed to work.
jamsey , a staff member did give the child first aid .
While David Jenkins (the child’s father) told the paper, “I just want to say thank you to the staff in Pizza Hut in particular the young girl who was the first aider and the two men from Vue cinema, staff at the Great North Air Ambulance, the James Cook Univeristy Hospital and the RVI
Everyone was great and helped us the best they could, but the grape was stuck and the only way of getting it out was through the paramedics using surgical scissor.
Clearly the very best was done. Not sure of the wisdom of giving grape to such a young child without it being cut in 4, so easy for them to choke. All food needs cutting to child size pieces.
was thinking the same thing norah b
Not wishing to allocate blame , but how about having parents routinely taught first aid at the maternity hospital, where they already receive guidance on things like beast feeding and avoidance of cot death?
It seems like that would be better than hoping that the seventeen year old kid who’s making your pizza and probably never even had to mind a baby happens to be good at lifesaving first aid procedures.
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