9-year-old Jayceon Branch was hailed a hero when he saved his friend from choking by performing the Heimlich maneuver last week.
Jayceon and his 7-year-old friend, Donye Moore, were playing basketball at Raleigh Oak Charter School when Donye began choking on a granola bar, according to WRAL.
Security cameras at the school captured the terrifying moment as Donye hunched over, gasping for air. Without hesitation, Jayceon sprang into action, wrapped his arms around his friend, and performed two quick abdominal thrusts, successfully dislodging the food.
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Jayceon told the outlet, “We were playing basketball and he ate a granola bar and we started playing longer until he started choking. I didn’t know he was actually, actually choking, so I just did my thing, which was a Heimlich.”
The 9-year-old explained that he learned the life-saving technique from YouTube after witnessing a teacher use the maneuver on another choking student.
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His actions didn’t go unnoticed, garnering praise from school officials, parents, and teachers. Eric Johnson, the executive director of Raleigh Oak Charter School, said, “We teach our kids to take care of each other, so this is really just a prime example of that. Jayceon just jumped into action so quickly. We’re really proud of him.”
Branch’s father, Oluefami Branch, admitted he panicked when he initially realized that he had missed a call from the school.
“I’ve had to be called to the school before for him. 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,” he recounted.
Meanwhile, Donye’s mother, Aja Moore, was stunned when she first learned what had happened.
She said, “At first, I wasn’t understanding that he had to be given the Heimlich maneuver or anything like that. It was surprising. I’m just thankful his friend was able to demonstrate that on him.”
When asked how he felt about Jayceon stepping in to help him, Donye simply said he was “surprised” and that it “felt good” to have his friend by his side.
To celebrate his heroic actions, the school held a special “clap out” ceremony for Jayceon, where students, teachers, and parents lined the halls to cheer for him, according to NBC News.
But in true Jayceon fashion, he insisted that Donye be celebrated as well, and the two walked the halls together to the sound of applause.
