A parrot whose cries of alarm alerted his owner when a little girl choked on her breakfast in Denver, Colorado, has been honoured as a hero.
Willie, a Quaker parrot, has been awarded the Denver Red Cross chapter's Animal Lifesaver Award.
In November, Willie's owner, Megan Howard, was babysitting toddler Hannah, who started to choke on her breakfast when Howard was out of the room.
When Willie repeatedly yelled "Mama, baby" and flapped his wings, Howard returned to find the girl turning blue.
She saved Hannah by performing the Heimlich manoeuvre, but insists Willie is "the real hero".
"The part where she turned blue is always when my heart drops, no matter how many times I've heard it," Hannah's mother, Samantha Kuusk, told KCNC-TV.
"My heart drops in my stomach and I get all teary eyed."
Willie got his award during a "Breakfast of Champions" event on Friday attended by Colorado Governor Bill Ritter and Mayor John Hickenlooper.
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