10-year-old saved choking sister

Casey receives the award from chief medical officer Greg Graham

A 10-year-girl has won a lifesaving award after she saved her sister from choking to death on a crisp.

Casey Blundell, from Caerphilly, was in the car with her family when she realised her sister Madison, two, had begun turning blue.

Casey first slapped Madison on the back before reaching down her throat to remove the crisp with her fingers.

She received her St John Cymru Wales Young Lifesaver of the Year award in front of 400 people.

Her mother Margaret Blundell said if Casey had not been there, Madison would not have survived.

"I'm ecstatic that Casey has won this award, we're so proud of her," she said.

"That Casey saved her sister's life goes to show why it's so important for children to have first aid knowledge."

National curriculum

Clare Davies, schools development officer for St John Wales, said Casey's first aid knowledge proved it was never too early to be learning how to save a life.

St John Wales said it had already been successful in its campaign to get first aid onto the national curriculum.

Last year, 6,000 young people in Wales were trained in first aid by the Young Lifesaver Scheme.

As part of her award, Casey and her family have won a week's holiday in west Wales.

She was given her prize at a ceremony in Llandrindod Wells, Powys.