Raleigh child performs Heimlich maneuver on friend to save him from choking :: WRAL.com

A 9-year-old boy at a Raleigh charter school stepped in at the
right time to help save a student from choking.

The second grader was gasping for air, struggling to breathe
before his friend took action. 

The young hero impressed his parents, who were overwhelmed to learn about the stunning act. 

It all happened on the playground, the source of many childhood friendships and memories. For Raleigh Oak Charter Academy students Jayceon
Branch and Donye Moore, their bond grew even stronger during recess
on the basketball court.

“Last week, we were playing basketball and he ate a
granola bar and we started playing longer until he started choking,” Branch said.

The unbelievable moment was captured on school surveillance
video.

The footage shows Donye in a dark-colored shirt begin to bend
over struggling to breathe. Jayceon, in white, noticed immediately and came to
his rescue. Squeezing his abdomen to expel the food. 

“He was trying to say hold on but he couldn’t because
he was choking,” Branch said. “I didn’t know he was actually, actually choking so I just did
my thing.”

The 9-year-old did do his “thing” – he performed a life-saving technique without hesitation. 

“Jayceon just jumped into action so quickly,” said Eric Johnson, Executive director at Raleigh Oak Charter School. “We’re
really proud of him.”

“I learned it from watching YouTube,” Branch said. “Because a teacher saw
a student choking and the student came to the teacher and started doing this
and then the teacher started doing what I did to Donye.”

The observant, quick learner became an instant hero in the
eyes of his friend.

“I felt surprised,” Moore said.

And their parents were shocked too. 

“It actually surprised me,” said Oluefami Branch, Jayceon’s dad.

Jayceon’s dad tells me he panicked when he initially saw a
missed call from the school. 

“I’ve had to be called to the school before for him,” said the dad. “But I
was hoping this time, I was like ‘oh my gosh, don’t let this be bad.’ But I got
the voicemail and he told me it was all good news.”

A sigh of relief followed. Now the parents are coming together,
watching the video back for the first time still in disbelief.

“At first, I wasn’t understanding that he had to be given
the Heimlich maneuver or anything like that,” said Donye’s mom Aja Moore. “It was surprising. I’m just
thankful his friend was able to demonstrate that on him.”

And while Donye is a 7-year-old with very brief words, He
lights up playing with his buddy once again.

It’s the beginning of a beautiful friendship that’ll last a
lifetime.

Raleigh Oak Charter Academy also plans to celebrate
Jayceon’s act of heroism soon at the school.