OCALA, Fla. – Police saved a 6-day-old baby from choking Saturday at a Golden Corral restaurant in Ocala, according to the department.
Police said Officers Hannah Patterson and Mike Coughlin arrived at the restaurant after hearing reports of the child choking on his mother’s milk.
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Patterson grabbed the baby, who was “turning purple” and started patting the boy’s back, which caused the child to “make a noise” before finally crying, according to officers.
Coughlin took over, continuing to pat his back, police said, which caused the boy to cry even more and open his eyes.
The boy was taken to the hospital, where the agency said he is expected to be OK.
“I was relieved,” Patterson said. “I was just like, ‘I’m holding a lifeless being in my hand.’ And when he made a noise, I was like, ‘OK, he’s alive.’ It made me feel good.”
“You get confidence in the training and see it work — and actually save lives,” Coughlin said.
The family set up a GoFundMe account to help with medical bills. Click here to visit the website.