A MOTHER'S desperate attempt to save her son's life as he choked to death on a kebab was captured in a 999 call.

As Michelle Curtis fought to save ten-year-old son Christopher's life, she pleaded to an emergency operator: "Please, he's dying. His pulse is going."

The transcript of her call to the ambulance service was read out at Christopher's inquest yesterday.

She fought frantically to save him as the operator tried to keep her calm and give instructions to remov ethe two pieces of steak meat lodged in his throat and perform CPR.

The tragedy happened when 35-year-old Ms Curtis, her partner John Belshaw and Christopher tucked into the takeaway while watching EastEnders at their home in Melbourne Court, Battlefield, Newcastle, in March.

Rapid response paramedic Ian McGibbon eventually removed two meat pieces from Christopher's throat using special tongs.

Christopher was taken to Newcastle General Hospital, but all efforts to revive him failed. He died of a lack of oxygen to the brain, caused by the meat being stuck in his throat, the inquest heard.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Coroner David Mitford told his mother: "You should not blame yourself. You did everything you could. It was an accident that Christopher swallowed the pieces of meat and they got stuck in his throat and stayed there.