An Ansonia police officer is being hailed a hero after saving a choking, 8-day-old baby.
It was Wednesday afternoon, just after feeding time when Jayni Alvarez and her fiance, William Perez heard strange noises coming from the crib of their daughter Jaynie Marie.
"I never seen a child red-purple with blue lips just not breathing, never, " said Alvarez .
Their 8-day-old daughter was choking on her formula. Alvarez called 911.
"Honestly, I thought she was gonna die. Her father and I thought it was the last time we were gonna see her because she was not gonna make it," Alvarez said.
Fortunately, Officer Joseph Jackson was only a block away when he heard the call on his radio.
"I drove my patrol vehicle and I didn't take every stair, just jumped up and walked into the house," said Officer Jackson.
The officer, with nearly a quarter century of experience, began to gingerly give Jaynie Marie chest compressions.
"All of a sudden foam came out of the mouth and then the baby woke. The eyes came open and that was it," said Officer Jackson.
Jayni Alvarez is thankful.
"You usually just don't see people who care so much the way he did and I saw it in his face. That's why I'm so grateful for him," Alvarez said.
Officer Jackson checks in with family everyday since the incident occurred. Alvarez says they consider him now a part of the family.
