The family of a woman with autism and learning difficulties has claimed she was 'repeatedly ignored by staff' at a Nando's restaurant after she choked during her meal on two occasions.
Katie Dunphy, 24, was with her younger sister Abbie, 16, and her full-time carer, 20, at the Queen's Square restaurant in Liverpool city centre on Thursday afternoon.
She ordered a butterfly chicken meal and suddenly started to choke on it after a few bites.
Abbie said the meal surprisingly tasted hotter than her own medium-spiced order and had to properly slap her sister's back until a piece of chicken came up.
She told Liverpool Echo : "It was horrible. We were sitting there and Katie then started choking and turning purple.
"I jumped up and started slapping her back as hard as I could.
"About a minute, it worked, and a piece of chicken came up.
"Two members of staff were walking past, looked over, but just kept on walking.
"It was other diners, not staff, who came over and asked if Katie was ok."
Five minutes later, Katie choked again and more members of staff were seen walking past and did nothing.
She continued: "The carer was trying to get some water.
"I was slapping her on the back for what felt like forever.
"We'd had no help. My wrist was burning because of me slapping her.
"I had to proper whack her. I put ice on my wrist afterwards to make it feel better.
"We're upset that no Nando's staff tried to help.
"It was totally the wrong way to deal with the incident."
As soon as they headed home to Walton, the family called the restaurant and complained to a manager who promised to investigate.
A Nando's spokesman said: "We were really sorry to hear the customer felt we hadn't been on hand to help during the incident.
"We pride ourselves on our customer service, but unfortunately on this occasion were not aware until after it had happened.
"We're now in touch with the customer who'll be joining us again for another meal soon."
