AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Police Department (APD) is praising two of its officers who saved a little boy from choking.
Officer Dalton Schroeder and Officer Jason Wright responded to a call about a 4-year-old choking on candy on Friday, Feb. 16, around 4:30 p.m. at the Menlo at Mueller Apartments in northeast Austin.
On Wednesday, William and his mother were reunited with the officers who saved him and the officers gave him some toys. His mother recounted those terrifying moments before the officers arrived.
“I just I panicked myself to like, ‘Oh my gosh,’” Guadalupe Romero said. “And then I start seeing his lips start getting purple, and he's trying to lay down and close his eyes. And I'm like, ‘No, no, no, no, no.’”
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When police got there, Officer Schroeder quickly used his personal anti-choking device, called LifeVac. It essentially acts like a plunger to remove the item.
Police released body camera video of the incident. In the moments after little William starts breathing normally again, he gives the officer a thumbs up, a high five and a hug.
“The outstanding work done by Officer Schroeder and Officer Wright successfully saved the life of a young child,” APD said in a press release. “APD commends both officers on their swift and effective action.”