CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — A situation that could’ve turned out much worse ended with so many people being thankful for the quick action of a school staff member and one really great friend.
It was Jan. 4 at Southeastern Elementary School in Chesapeake.
Kids were eating lunch in the cafeteria until young Cora Dartez noticed something was wrong.
“I looked to my left and his face was really red and I like asked if he was choking,” she said.
Her friend, Wyatt Park, was choking on his food.
Eight-year-old Wyatt told 10 On Your Side he swallowed his food without chewing.
“I didn’t chew enough,” Wyatt said. I was eating a Dorito walking and talking and like the Dorito was sideways in my throat and it felt weird.”
Cora said she tried the Heimlich maneuver after learning about it online.
“I just got really scared and I just knew that if I didn’t react, I would regret it for the rest of my life,” she said, explaining why she jumped into action so quickly.
When that didn’t work, she screamed for the school security officer Gary Little to help.