Hero Troopers Save Choking Infant in Dramatic Roadside Rescue
In a heart-stopping display of quick thinking and life-saving skill, two Maryland State Troopers have been lauded as heroes after they successfully rescued a choking infant on the side of a road in Calvert County. The dramatic incident, captured on bodycam footage, saw Troopers First Class Taylor Hersh and Corporal Jonathan Stoltzfus race against time to clear the baby’s airway, preventing a potentially tragic outcome.
The event unfolded on a Saturday afternoon as Hersh and Stoltzfus were engaged in a service call in the quiet residential area of Lusby. Parked outside their unmarked vehicles, their attention was suddenly drawn by a distressed cry from across the street. A woman’s frantic voice cut through the air, urgently seeking help. “I need help, my baby is choking!” she called out to the troopers.
Without a moment’s hesitation, the footage shows one trooper immediately setting down an object he was holding on the hood of his SUV and sprinting across the road towards the terrified mother. His partner followed closely behind. The mother, clearly distraught, began to explain that her child was choking as she handed the infant over to one of the troopers. She mentioned that the baby had only been drinking liquids.
The trooper swiftly knelt on the ground, cradling the infant belly-down on his leg. He began to administer gentle but firm pats to the baby’s back, a critical first step in dislodging any obstruction. Amidst the intense moments, the mother could be heard saying, “He’s just throwing up,” and “He’s just spitting up some stuff,” as the troopers continued their determined efforts.
Maintaining a calm and rhythmic pace, the trooper softly spoke to the infant, offering words of encouragement: “Come on buddy.” He then handed the baby to his partner, explaining that he needed to retrieve a suction cup from his vehicle. The second trooper, now holding the infant, urgently checked for breathing.
The tension in the air was palpable until, moments later, a profound sense of relief washed over the scene. The trooper confirmed, “He’s breathing.” The audible sigh of relief from the mother was a testament to the perilous situation they had just navigated.
The Maryland State Police Department shared the gripping video on X (formerly Twitter), commending the troopers for their “quick actions and training.” They emphasised that these factors were instrumental in saving the infant’s life and preventing a potentially devastating event. A statement from the department read, “Two MDSP Troopers are being credited with saving the life of a choking infant in Southern Maryland this past weekend. Their quick actions and training made all the difference, preventing what could have been yet another tragic outcome. Well done, TFC Hersh and Cpl. Stoltzfus!”
This remarkable rescue echoes a similar incident that occurred just a month prior, where another Maryland State Trooper saved a choking infant during a traffic stop. On February 15th, Trooper Nicolas Warren was conducting a routine traffic stop in Cecil County when a distressed driver pulled up, pleading for assistance. “We need help. My baby is choking,” the driver exclaimed.
Trooper Warren immediately contacted emergency medical services while simultaneously commencing life-saving first aid on the infant. This dramatic rescue was also captured on official footage. Warren, who had prior experience as a volunteer firefighter, spoke about the importance of his training. “I grew up in the fire department. I was a volunteer before I came to the state police, so I’ve had plenty of training, and then, they gave us a ton of training in the academy, and I’ve been able to use it quite often on my job,” he told WBAL-TV 11 News.
He acknowledged that while he had received extensive training, this was his first time applying such techniques to a choking infant. “That was the first time that I’ve used that kind of training on an infant,” he admitted. “You don’t get too many calls on babies, so it was definitely a first for me.”
Despite it being a novel situation, Trooper Warren remained remarkably calm. He administered back blows to the infant for several minutes until the blockage was successfully cleared. Mirroring the events of the recent Calvert County rescue, the infant began breathing again within moments. “It happened so fast that your brain just clicks. So, I was very thankful for that training,” Warren stated.
He reflected on the profound satisfaction derived from such moments. “That’s why you sign up to do this job. And, it’s the most rewarding thing you can have, having a good outcome and something like that. That happened so fast and seconds count, so it was very, very rewarding.” These incidents underscore the vital role of first responders and the critical importance of continuous training in emergency situations.
