A Warren, Michigan, police officer is being hailed as a hero after saving the life of an 18-month-old toddler who was choking during a routine traffic stop.
The dramatic event, which was captured on officer body cam video, took place on August 29 when Officer Brenden Fraser stopped a Chevrolet Camaro for speeding in the 12 Mile area of Detroit.
According to Fraser, the vehicle which was estimated to be traveling at speeds between 75–80 mph.
As Fraser approached the vehicle, he was met with frantic cries for help from the child’s mother inside the car.
“We got a baby in here dying!” the mother shouted.
Fraser immediately assessed the situation and noticed that the toddler was turning blue, with his eyes rolled back in distress.
“I look inside, and there’s a child that’s having some kind of medical emergency when the uncle hands him over to me,” recounted Fraser. “He had spit and all types of saliva around his mouth. It looked like he was maybe choking, so I put him on my forearm, and I administered a couple of back blows to him when I felt some saliva and vomit fall onto my arm.”
Thanks to Fraser’s quick-thinking and life-saving response, the child began breathing again.
Reflecting on the incident, Fraser credited his training for being able to save the child and calm down the family members.
“Watching it now, it’s kind of overwhelming, but in the moment there’s really not much thought other than relying on the training.”
Warren Police Commissioner William Dwyer expressed his admiration for Officer Fraser’s heroic actions.
“Officer Fraser’s actions on this traffic stop are nothing short of heroic. This incident shows that police work and traffic stops are not always about writing tickets or making arrests,” Dwyer said.
Dwyer added that Fraser would be nominated for a life-saving award from the department.
The 18-month-old boy, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed, was subsequently released from the hospital and reunited with his family, thanks to Fraser’s timely intervention.