A parrot whose cries of alarm helped save the life of a choking girl in the US has been hailed a hero.
Quaker parrot Willie has been awarded the Red Cross's Animal Lifesaver Award in Denver, Colorado.
His histrionics alerted his owner, Megan Howard, who was baby-sitting the little girl last November.
Incredibly, Willie squawked: "Mama, baby", and flapped his wings to get her attention, reports Sky News.
Ms Howard returned to find the little girl, Hannah, already turning blue after choking on her breakfast.
The carer saved Hannah by performing the Heimlich manoeuvre but said Willie was "the real hero".
Hannah's mother, Samantha Kuusk, has admitted recounting the episode is still painful.
"The part where she turned blue is always when my heart drops no matter how many times I've heard it," she said.
"My heart drops in my stomach and I get all teary eyed."
Quaker parrot Willie has been awarded the Red Cross's Animal Lifesaver Award in Denver, Colorado.
His histrionics alerted his owner, Megan Howard, who was baby-sitting the little girl last November.
Incredibly, Willie squawked: "Mama, baby", and flapped his wings to get her attention, reports Sky News.
Ms Howard returned to find the little girl, Hannah, already turning blue after choking on her breakfast.
The carer saved Hannah by performing the Heimlich manoeuvre but said Willie was "the real hero".
Hannah's mother, Samantha Kuusk, has admitted recounting the episode is still painful.
"The part where she turned blue is always when my heart drops no matter how many times I've heard it," she said.
"My heart drops in my stomach and I get all teary eyed."
