Our hero: Six-year-old Telford girl saves her baby sister's life

Caitlyn reacted quickly after noticing 22-month-old Maddison was choking while they were playing with a toy money till at the family home.

She had swallowed a penny, which had blocked her windpipe and was preventing her from breathing.

Caitlyn screamed to her mother Laura Hughes for help and turned Maddison onto her front and patted her back.

Her actions dislodged the coin enough for the baby to continue breathing.

The toddler was rushed to Telford's Princess Royal Hospital and transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Medics told the family that without the actions of Caitlyn Maddison would have almost certainly choked to death.

Maddison was discharged from hospital on Sunday following Saturday's drama and the family are now back at home at their Telford home.

Laura, 24, said: "It has certainly been a traumatic weekend and we are still trying to come to terms with it all.

"I was upstairs making the bed when I became aware of Caitlyn screaming 'Maddison looks like she is going to be sick, she is heaving'.

"She didn't know Maddison had swallowed a penny. She was playing with her with the till, playing shop. It took me about 30 seconds to get downstairs, in that time Caitlyn had turned her over and was patting her on the back."

The family, along with father Scott Darrall, rushed Caitlyn to hospital – and it was only there they realised the significance of their eldest's actions.

"I didn't mention what Caitlyn had done at Princess Royal with all the panic and everything that was going on, but I did speak to one of the nurses at Birmingham after she was transferred there," Laura said.

"We told her what Caitlyn had done and she was adamant that if she had not done what she did, then Maddison might not be with us today.

"The penny was just to the side of the windpipe and didn't lodge there – Caitlyn may have loosened it at a key time."

Laura, who lives with the family at a flat in Majestic Way, Aqueduct, said she was stunned at how quickly the situation had developed.

She said: "She always plays with the till, it's one of her favourite toys. At that age they will stick anything in their mouth, but she has never ever put a penny in before.

"When I went upstairs she and Caitlyn were playing lovely and I thought they were safe. I went up to make the bed and the next thing I know all hell is breaking loose.

"I wanted to raise awareness about it really. Luckily Caitlyn knew what to do but I dread to think what would have happened if she didn't.

"She is just a superstar, our hero. My children are my life so I don't know what I would have done if we had lost Maddison. We owe that to Caitlyn and we are so proud of her.

"Her dad went out and bought her some flowers, I have bought her a game – she is definitely trying to reap the benefits of what she has done.

"But she is naturally protective of Maddison anyway – she was eating a pack of Wotsits earlier and Caitlyn said 'Is she supposed to be eating those?'"

Caitlyn is a pupil at Aqueduct Primary School and news of her heroic actions reached the playground yesterday.

Headteacher Mrs Jo Clarke said: "We were amazed to hear what Caitlyn had done and we are very proud to have such a little star at our school.

"We plan to give her a special award at our end-of-year assembly."