The mum of a youngster who stopped breathing after falling over at a leisure park has thanked everyone who helped save her daughter's life.

Leanne Simmons, was at The Strand in Gillingham yesterday when her daughter Mia, who is just 15 months old, fell over and stopped breathing.

Two women, Helen Turner and Rachel Steer, were first on the scene after Ms Simmons scooped the child up in her arms.

Mrs Turner immediately ran over to help as initially she thought the child had suffered a head injury.

At about the same time, Ms Steer, who works at Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham, also saw what had happened and also went over to to help and both women began CPR on Mia until she started breathing again.

Ms Simmons has posted on Facebook thanking everyone who helped her and her daughter and wants to meet up with the women who helped save Mia's life.

Mrs Turner, 32, who lives in the Walderslade area, said: "Her eyes were rolling and she had gone blue.

"I took her and laid her on the ground and started doing CPR, but just the basic steps.

"Rachel then came over and said she was a trained in first aid and took over and she carried out CPR and got the child breathing again."

Ms Steer, 29, who lives in Rainham, added: "Her lips had gone blue by the time I got there and I checked to see if she was choking and patted her on the back and I did some quick puffs to her mouth and got her going again.

"She started to gasp and then she was crying for her mum and I knew she would be fine then.

"I put her in the recovery possession and and then staff at the site came over and took over."

Mia's mum says she can't thank everyone enough.

Ms Simmons, said: "I was there with the kids and my friend Michelle Bealing when Mia took a turn for the worse, she went from eating and having a little wander around the park to being limp, having a seizure in my arms and then stopping breathing.

"My friend called an ambulance straight away and looked after my other children while all this was going on, while we were in the ambulance and while we were at the hospital.

"The women came over to me and helped me when I was at my most desperate, one got the first aiders from the swimming pool, they tried to keep me calm, one took Mia from me and laid her on the grass and another gave Mia mouth-to-mouth, they worked together to get my baby breathing again.

"The first aiders from the swimming pool came over, took in the situation and ran with my baby to the swimming pool office, the ladies were so calm and in control, made sure Mia remained breathing.

"They stripped her off and was comfortable while we waited for the ambulance.

"I'm so unbelievably grateful for everyone that helped us.

"Mia is absolutely fine, back to her little lovely self, but I really thought I'd lost her.

"The hospital said it was the heat combined with the shock of her falling over.

"We were in the shade, had a nice breeze, we only got there at 2.30pm and hadn't been there long."

The Strand is managed by Medway Council and bosses have also praised staff for their actions.

Bob Dimond, head of sport, leisure, tourism and heritage at the authority, added: "Our sports officers were working in the swimming pool area of The Strand in Gillingham when a distressed customer approached them for help.

"A 15-month-old child had stopped breathing when they were playing in one of the park areas nearby.

"All our sports officers across Medway train regularly in case of a medical emergency and immediately responded to assist.

"It was a terrifying incident for the mother and our staff did an excellent job at reassuring her until paramedics arrived.

“I am extremely proud of the staff.

"They remained calm throughout and supported each other, as well as the mother."