Woman who swallowed a 20cm toothbrush while on vacation reveals how she is lucky to be alive

A woman has revealed she is 'lucky to be alive' after she accidentally swallowed a 20cm toothbrush while on vacation - leaving her terrified of brushing her teeth. 

In July, Amber Hunt, 38, was on vacation in Croatia visiting her in-laws with husband Amir Devark, 41, and their two children - aged eight and one - when she felt the tool go down her throat. 

The mom-of-two, from Ohio, was brushing the back of her mouth when the 20cm toothbrush slipped out of her fingers and down her throat.

She attempted to grab the toothbrush, however, she was unsuccessful and began panicking - prompting her spouse to rush her to the hospital to have it removed by experts. 

Now, Amber is recalling the incident that left her 'afraid' to use the oral hygiene product ever again. 

Once the mom arrived to the hospital, doctors 'didn't believe' she had a toothbrush in her stomach and performed an upper endoscopy. 

When she arrived, she explained what had happened and doctors performed an ultrasound but Amber claims they couldn't see the toothbrush at first.

She said: 'They didn't believe me as they couldn't see the toothbrush. They were calling my father-in-law to check the bathroom to make sure I hadn't thrown it.

'We went home for the evening and came back the next day. They performed an upper endoscopy and they found the toothbrush in my stomach and transferred me to another hospital.'

A doctor was unable to get the toothbrush out so Amber was taken to KBC Split Hospital in Split, Croatia, for a 45-minute procedure to have it removed.

Medics put a string around a camera inserted it down her throat and used it to get a hold of the toothbrush and pull it up out of Amber's throat - all while Amber was awake.

Amber said: 'I am happy to be alive, I am worried to use a toothbrush again. I have to be very careful, I do it slowly and make sure my hands are dry so it doesn't slip out.

'It was so scary, it shocked my family. It hadn't ruined my vacation but it would have if something seriously bad happened.'

Amber said: 'Luckily I didn't choke and it went down to my stomach. 

'The feeling when I swallowed it was 'oh my gosh, I am going to die. I kept swallowing, I knew I could still breathe - I kept trying to grab it but couldn't.

'I have muscle spasms, I have my throat stretched every few months so I think that is why it didn't get stuck.'

The mom revealed that she is lucky to be alive and said that she is now 'wary' of using a toothbrush.'