A four-year-old boy was rushed to hospital in critical condition after choking on a grape in Ballito this morning.

Paramedics responded to the distress call and discovered the child unresponsive due to the grape obstructing his airway.

Medi Response spokesperson Janus van Schalkwy said their paramedics, alongside a Lenmed advanced life support paramedic, removed the obstruction and initiated CPR.

“The child was promptly placed on a ventilator, and their collaborative efforts successfully revived the child,” said Schalkwyk.

The boy remains hospitalised in Durban, in a critical condition.

According to the Child Accident Prevention Trust in the United Kingdom, grapes are the third most common culprit in food-related fatal choking accidents.

The site recommended that grapes be cut in half for children five and under.

“The size and shape of grapes means they can completely plug a child’s airway. And the tight seal produced by the grape’s smooth surface makes them difficult to dislodge with standard first aid techniques,” the site stated.

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