Banning Custodian Honored For Saving Choking Kindergartener

BANNING, CA — Quick thinking by an elementary school custodian saved a young boy's life, according to the Banning Unified School District and the family of young Joshua Dupre.

All gathered to honor custodian Jack Sanchez for his heroic efforts this fall when he used quick thinking and action to perform the Heimlich maneuver on the choking kindergartner.

"They could have been a very sad day for us and without him," mother Charnesha Dupre told reporters. "I don't even know what... I can't even imagine."

It was mid-September when the Central Elementary School lunchroom was packed full of twelve classes worth of kids. Things were busy and boisterous as usual.

Then Joshua collapsed to the floor, choking on a grape.

Sanchez could have wasted time running for a nurse or someone else, but he didn't, Principal Marcia Cole-Fijabi told reporters. That is something young Joshua and his parents will not soon forget.

"(He's a hero) because he saved me when I was choking on the grape," Joshua Dupre told reporters.

According to Cole-Fijabi, Sanchez Sanchez has been on staff at the school for years and is a humble employee who doesn't like a lot of recognition, she told reporters in an ABC7 on-camera interview. "We helped him understand that it's wonderful for him to be that observant during the biggest lunch we have. He acted quickly (performing the Heimlich maneuver) because he knew that a student needed help quickly."

Sanchez described the moment, saying it still didn't quite register that he'd saved the boy's life.

"(Joshua) was gasping for air, and I went over there and just started pumping his stomach until the grape came out," Sanchez told reporters.

Afterward, Joshua felt better but the incident resonated over social media.

"He doesn't like recognition, and we wanted him to understand that during a lunch of 12 classes, he acted quickly," Cole-Fijabi "He loves kids and has a passion for them."

Sanchez's recently retired wife, Linda, shared her thoughts on the Facebook post.

"I'm so proud of him that he took the initiative and did what he needed to do," Linda Sanchez wrote. "He was just there at the right time, he says. He is just glad the grape popped out!"

Father Antonio Dupre agreed.

"Joshua's the baby of the bunch," he said. "We're just grateful that (Sanchez) was there and was able to save the day."