the life of a little girl.

The father-of-two gave the one-year-old the "kiss of life'' as a crowd gathered around. Slowly the child -- who had stopped breathing and turned blue -- was revived.

"I don't know what was more traumatic -- saving the child, or thinking about what I had done afterwards,'' exclaimed grocer Mr. Adderley yesterday.

"I have two children, and it was just a very emotional experience.'' His wife, Maxine, said: "He just broke down. He was very upset by it all.'' Last night the child, who has not been named, was recovering well at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

The drama happened shortly before 3 p.m. outside Mr. Adderley's grocery store in St. John's Road, Pembroke. The child's parents drove up outside TA Adderley & Son, and ran in calling for help.

Thirty-eight-year-old Mr. Adderley was watching engineers repair an electricity pole when he was called into action.

As a voluntary fireman at St. George's he is skilled at performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. "The father rushed in saying his daughter was dead, and urged us to call an ambulance. The child wasn't breathing and didn't have a pulse. She was a bluey-grey colour.'' As a crowd gathered, Mr. Adderley, of Paget, placed the girl on the roadside and gradually revived her. He was keen to keep the parents away to ease their distress.

"It was so fortunate that I know how to perform mouth-to-mouth. I keep thinking how lucky it was. I don't know who the parents are, although they are Portuguese and I think they are customers at my store.

"It was just so good when the pulse was restored, a wonderful feeling.'' Meanwhile, Miss Jennifer Correia, who works at the store, called 911. She said the child appeared to have had an asthma attack.

"The parents were really grateful to Mr. Adderley, who saved their daughter's life. I think it is wonderful what he has done. We've been in touch with the hospital and heard she is doing fine.'' An ambulance whisked the child to hospital's emergency department. She was detained overnight for observation.

Last night Dr. Edward Schultz, emergency room director, said the child's parents did not want to be named, or interviewed. He said the child was aged between one and two.

Mr. Gareath Adderley.