In Nevada, off-duty officer Quinn Averett ran to the rescue of a choking 3-year-old. Damian Valencia was choking to death on a piece of hard candy when the officer responded to a call for help while on his way home from work. The officer's quick actions kept the toddler alive and the dramatic moment was caught on the cop's body camera and store surveillance footage.
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When he arrived, the off-duty officer found the toddler choking on a Jawbreaker that he had gotten from a birthday party. The little boy was gasping for breath and semi-conscious.
Moments earlier, the boys' parents ran into the convenience store screaming for help. When Officer Averett arrived, he threw the boy over his knee face down and smacked his back in a reverse-Heimlich maneuver. Nothing seemed to be working.
After about a minute, Valencia coughed out the candy. An ambulance arrived and Averett quietly slipped out the door, a humble hero, requiring no thanks or kudos but the whole thing was caught on video.
Averett received a body cam a few weeks ago. His body camera was turned off when he arrived on the scene but his quick movements during the rescue triggered the record function.
When Valencia's family walked into the convenience store, they were frantically searching for someone, anyone, to save their son. I'm sure they will never forget the off-duty cop and father who responded to the call and saved their precious little boy's life.
In a tearful reunion, Valencia's family got the chance to thank Officer Averett at the police station a few days later. Valencia's mother, Mariana Cardiel, said, "It's just something he came out of nowhere like an angel to save my son."
I agree with Cardiel, Officer Averett is like an angel. He didn't have to respond but he did. He came out of nowhere and he saved her son. In my book, Officer Averett is a hero and represents everything good in the world today.
Watch the dramatic video of the rescue below. Be warned, it'll give you chills.
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