Tacos And Beer Manager Saves Choking Baby; Mom Thanks Baby's 'Hero'

TEMECULA, CA — Alyssa Rose and her family were dining at Temecula Tacos & Beer Beer Mi Lindo Mexico on an afternoon in late May when she handed her toddler a teething cracker to keep her entertained.

Rose quickly realized something was wrong with her daughter.

"She was turning purple," said Rose. "She wasn't breathing."

Rose knew her daughter was choking. She attempted to sweep the food from her daughter's mouth, but she could not clear the toddler's airway.

Then suddenly help was there.

Tacos & Beer manager Bruno Amador knew what to do, instinct more than experience, kicked in.

"He sprinted over and gave my daughter the infant Heimlich Maneuver and compression," she said. "I was attempting the Heimlich, and everyone else around me was just watching. He came out of nowhere! I'm still in shock."

Rose told Patch about the heroic act, wanting to share her cautionary tale and offer her thanks to Amador.

In a phone interview, Amador explained why he had to act.

"I'm a father of three, and I know how it feels when your child is in trouble," he said. "If you see someone in trouble, you want to take the chance to help somebody. I saw the baby was another color and choking. I think it was God who intervened."

Though he took CPR years ago, he didn't think about what he was doing but just reacted.

"The mom was really scared and so was the family," he said. "I am not a professional. I hope someone else would do the same thing."

Community members weighed in on a Facebook post shared by Rose, both congratulating Amador on his heroic efforts and commiserating with Rose about their similar experiences.

"Now that.....that right there deserves a tip," one commenter said. "Glad your baby is ok!"

The troublesome treat was a HappyBaby organic teether cracker, according to Rose. Others shared their experiences with toddlers choking in similar circumstances.

"So glad she is ok, and he saved her. What a blessing he was," another commenter added. "I remember when my son was choking on an animal cookie, and I saved his life many more times than once!!! I will forever Remember every one of them…. glad your baby is ok!"

Another mother was grateful for learning the brand of troublesome cracker.

"I am so happy to hear your daughter was saved. Thank you, Bruno for being a hero," she wrote. "I can only imagine the trauma you went thru. Thank you for letting us know what snack it was. I use this same one and now I will be more cautious than I ever was before I read this. May you all heal from this traumatic experience."

Visit Temecula Tacos & Beer Mi Lindo Mexico, located at 40517 Margarita Road inside the Promenade Temecula shopping center, and when you go, be sure to ask for Bruno!