'He's Choking': Custodian's Quick Action Saves Boy's Life

OcTave Lawrence and Russ Palen pose for a happy-ending photo. (Photo courtesy of Avondale School District)

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A tortilla chip could have cut short OcTave Lawrence’s young life earlier this month if not by the quick action of a custodian at Avondale’s Woodland Elementary, who rushed to the fourth-grader’s side and performed the Heimlich maneuver after he heard another student exclaim, “He’s choking!”

The 9-year-old from Troy was gasping for air and had a look of panic on his face when Russ Palen, the custodian, sprang into action. In a statement, Principal Arryn Schneider called him “a hero,” The Oakland Press reports.

“Russ saw a student with a look of panic on his face and the student was in fact choking,” Schneider said. “Russ immediately went over to the student and performed the Heimlich maneuver and dislodged the nacho chip the student was choking on. Thankfully, the student was okay – just a little scared – and was able to continue his day.”

The boy’s mother, LaTosha Lawrence, knows how fortunate her son is that Palen was nearby.

“I’m a registered nurse, so I know what could’ve happened if the quick efforts from the staff went lacking,” Lawrence said. “My family and I are forever grateful to the Woodland staff member, Mr. Russ.”

There’s a bit more to this story.

If he hadn’t been laid off from his job during the auto industry collapse seven years ago, he might never have been at the school, WJBK, Channel 2, reports. He previously worked as a supervisor at an automotive supplier plant, where he learned the technique.

The incident happened Sept. 18, but was just reported by the Avondale School District.