Quick-thinking 9-year-old saves choking classmate’s life

RACINE, Wis. — A Wisconsin fourth grader jumped into action when she saw a classmate choking during lunch on Tuesday.

Essence Collier knew precisely what to do when she saw a girl in her class holding her neck at Fratt Elementary in Racine, according to WISN.

Samantha Bradshaw, a teacher who was filling in that day, saw Collier sprint across the room to help her fellow student.

“Out of nowhere, I see Essence get up, and kind of dart across the classroom. I didn’t know what was going on. I kind of said, stop,” Bradshaw told the station.

Collier later told WTMJ-TV in an interview that she performed the Heimlich maneuver to clear the airway of her classmate who was choking on a Cheeto.

“I saw this one video, and it said how to help someone when they’re choking,” Collier said.

Collier had watched a video two years ago teaching children how to do the Heimlich Maneuver when she was seven, according to WISN.

“I called Essence a hero, but she said no, I’m just a student,” Bradshaw told WTMJ.

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