A Perth father says his late son’s “legacy for caring” will continue after a northern suburbs council voted to install anti-choking devices at dozens of public places.
Toddler Zaire “ZaZa” Bwoga choked to death on grapes during a visit to Burns Beach in Iluka in January, just weeks before he was to celebrate his second birthday.
His devastated father Brian Bwoga directed his pain into several campaigns, including one calling for the City of Joondalup to place LifeVac airway clearance devices in buildings across the council area.
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LifeVacs are used to clear the upper airway in emergency situations when traditional first aid protocols including back thrusts have been unsuccessful.
They cost about $163 per unit and are listed as a “Class 1 Medical Device” on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, meaning the level of harm they pose to users or patients is considered “lowest”.
On Tuesday, councillors voted to support a motion to install them next to defibrillators at more than 30 community locations including beaches, libraries and city parks.
The father was at the council meeting and said securing support for the installation — which may be a world-first — was one of his proudest moments.
“I’m super stoked. But it’s not about me. It’s about other people, other parents. It’s going to help countless people,” he told 7NEWS.com.au, just moments before his advocacy work was set to be highlighted in WA Parliament on Thursday.
Bwoga previously shared how his world came crashing down on January 15 when his little boy died in his arms.
ZaZa had been eating grapes with a friend when he came over holding his neck and struggling to breathe.
The father quickly cleared one grape from his child’s throat but began emergency CPR when he could not dislodge a second and his child turned blue.
“I tried CPR but nothing was coming up. He was holding me so tight,” Bwoga said.
“He gave me one final look, a smile, and passed away in my arms. He died in my arms.”
There were 1186 deaths attributed to choking and suffocation in Australia in 2020-2021, with 144 of those linked to obstruction by food. Almost 500 people were also treated in hospital for food-related blockages.
The council expects to spend about $5200 on the rollout, but Bwoga said it is a small price to save even one life.
The grieving father was quoted $15,000 to bury his son.
Bwoga said he is far from done and plans to speak with other councils and the education department about making the devices more readily available.
He launched a petition calling for warning labels to be included on packaged grapes and is keen to see signs placed near loose grapes as an alert to other parents.
“The (LifeVac decision) gives me momentum for the labels and to push forward with my mental health advocacy,” he said.
“This is just the beginning.”