A TERRIFIED mum screamed for help as her son choked on a pen top and "turned grey".

Thirteen-year-old Paul Windle, of The Crescent, Dunsop Bridge, was rushed to Blackburn Royal Infirmary where he was given emergency surgery to remove the object fom his lung.

Now his furious parents say they are considering legal action against manufacturer Pilot Pens and have warned people not to put pens in their mouths.

Company bosses have launched an inquiry into the incident and are to review the pen's manufacture.

Mum Pamela said she was on the phone when her son started choking while mulling over his homework.

She said: "I threw down the phone and started thumping him on his back. He was sick twice, but the object was still lodged.

"He couldn't breathe and turned grey. I was terrified and screamed to neighbours for help. By the time the ambulance arrived, his lips and fingers were blue."

Surgeons at Blackburn Royal Infirmary battled to remove a plastic stud from the top of the pen from Paul's lung. He is now at home recovering from a partial lung collapse which left him with a "sore throat and chest."

The pen was part of a set bought by his parents as a Christmas gift. The fine-tipped pens are popular among teenagers.

Pamela added: "Millions of these pens have been sold. They are very popular. I wouldn't like anyone to go through the same ordeal and am warning people to be very careful."

John Osborne, managing director of Pilot Pens, said the model of pen in question was one of 30 million which had been sold in the UK without incident.

He said: "When it was introduced in 1985, it met stringent safety requirements. This accident has caused us great concern and we have instituted a full inquiry into the matter.

"This will include the question of whether present safety requirements are adequate.

"We have written to Mrs Windle expressing our deep sympathies for the distress caused to her family at the time of the accident.

"We hope Paul makes a full and speedy recovery and does not suffer future problems as a result of the incident."

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