Brandon, who has autism, responded quickly when he saw his classmate Jessica Pellegrino choking on an apple during lunch time.
Applying the heimlich maneuver (or abdominal thrusts), which is the first aid technique of choice for choking, he saved her.
He wrapped his arms around her from behind, and gave a sharp, upward thrust to her diaphragm and viola! She immediately spit out the piece of apple skin lodged in her throat.
When he was explaining what had happened to his father and how he learned to saved Jessica’s life, he credits the popular cartoon Spongebob Squarepants.
In an interview with Staten Island Advance, his dad explained, “He picks up on things that most of us would miss, and files it all away in his head, and he can recall it all in an instant. That’s how he knew instantly what to do. And we’re glad he did. We’re proud of him.”
Inside Edition also reported on Brandon’s heroic act.
