'Lucky Charm' 6th Grader Saves Friend From Choking During Lunch

PLAINFIELD, IL — A student at Aux Sable Middle School became a St. Patrick's Day hero.

While sixth grader Sergio Escobedo was eating lunch with his friend, he noticed his friend coughing and choking. At first, he thought his friend was making a joke. But his face soon turned red, then bright purple, Plainfield School District 202 officials said Wednesday.

After some quick thinking, Escobedo jumped up and performed the Heimlich maneuver until his friend stopped choking and started breathing again.

"It was kind of instinct," Escobedo said, as relayed to Tom Hernandez, director of community relations.

Staff quickly called the school nurse, Shannon Morris, but by the time she arrived at the cafeteria, Escobedo's friend was awake, breathing and no longer choking, according to district officials.

"We at Aux Sable could not be any prouder of Sergio for seeing that his friend was in need and acted," Morris said in a statement. "With it being St. Patrick’s Day, Sergio was truly his friend’s lucky charm that day in the cafeteria."

According to Hernandez, the boy shrugs off being called a hero but is happy to report his friend texted him after the incident to say he was OK.

When confronted with tough situations like this, Escobedo encourages people to remain calm and not overthink it, Hernandez said.