US family release video of toddler strangling on window blind cord

The US government 'were aware' of the hazards of window blind cords about 30 years ago

Gavin Walla is seen in the video hanging, unable to breathe, on the cord before being rescued by his mother (YouTube)

A family has released a video of their young son strangling on a window blind cord more than a decade after the incident.

In a warning to other parents about the dangers of cords, Gavin Walla has shared footage of himself almost choking to death while a toddler.

His mother is filming in the living room as her children play when she notices Gavin standing still in the corner with the cord around his neck.

He is not breathing, and she drops the camera to untangle him while screaming his name.

Gavin is heard spluttering for breath, and has now lived to 17 to want to share the lesson - revealed as part of an ABC new channel investigation into the domestic hazard.

He told ABC News: "I'm glad that it's out there. It saved the lives of other children that have been fortunate enough to have parents who have seen the video."

The US government first identified window blind cords as dangerous 30 years ago.

Yet more than 100 children have died in similar window blind cord accidents since Mr Walla's with little legislation in place to stop their production, according to ABC.

Elliot Kaye, the chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, said action should be taken.

"I see decades, and I'm talking decades, about children once a month getting hanged to death by these products and it's got to stop," he told ABC.

Ikea and Target have stopped selling window blinds with accessible cords, citing safety concerns.

Home Depot, Walmart and Lowe's have announced they will stop selling blinds with cords by the end of 2018, ABC news reported.