TODDLER Bethany Aitken owes her life to neighbour Debbie Gilbert - after she took a swig from a cup and nearly died.

For the cup held coins collected by her older brother, and two-year-old Bethany swallowed two.

She was choking and losing consciousness when Debbie acted - performing a tricky abdominal thrust to free the coins.

Mum Tracey Aitken, 32, and neighbour Debbie, 40, of Geoffrey Drive, Monmouth, were bathing their babies after a children's party when the drama happened.

On the side of the bath was a cup of coins - money Bethany's brother Kyle, aged four, had collected for Children In Need.

As Mrs Gilbert dried Bethany, the tot grabbed the cup and swigged from it.

She spat some coins onto the floor but then started to cough and choke. Mrs Gilbert stuck her fingers in Bethany's mouth but felt nothing inside - but the toddler had stopped breathing and turned blue.

Her mum said: "I froze. Debbie picked Bethany up and dangled her upside down while smacking her on the back. Bethany struggled then gradually went limp. I was hysterical but ran to call an ambulance." She added: "I thought my child was dying."

In desperation, Mrs Gilbert suggested performing an abdominal thrust on Bethany - a risk with babies as their ribs can crack.

Mrs Aitken said: "I told her to do it. After several attempts, a two pence and a one pence coin fell out."

Bethany took some calming down by the still nerveless Mrs Gilbert before she drew breath again.

Mrs Aitken said: "I'm certain if Debbie wasn't there then Bethany would have died."

But Bethany isn't so sure about her treatment. "Bethany hit me when she regained consciousness and has been funny with me since the incident," said Mrs Gilbert.