11-year-old saves choking student, helps woman from house fire on same day

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Oklahoma sixth-grader Davyon Johnson was honored by law enforcement and school officials for his heroic actions not just once, but twice in the same day.

Davyon Johnson’s heroism

The 11-year-old used the Heimlich maneuver to save a choking classmate and then sprung into action later that day when he helped an elderly woman from a burning home, Oklahoma officials said.

Last week, Davyon was named an honorary member of the police and sheriff’s departments at the Muskogee Board of Education meeting, the Muskogee Phoenix reported.

“I felt good, excited,” Davyon said about the honor.

Principal Latricia Dawkins called Davyon a “dual hero” and said the recognition couldn’t have happened to a better person.

“He is just a kind soul and well-liked by his peers and staff alike,” she said.

Dawkins recalled the incident that earned Davyon the honor. She said a student was trying to fill his water bottle and trying to loosen the cap with his mouth. The cap slipped into his throat, she said.

The choking student stumbled into a nearby classroom, where Davyon happened to be, she said.

“Davyon immediately sprinted over and did the Heimlich maneuver,” Dawkins said. “From the account of the witnesses, when he did it the bottle cap popped out.”

Davyon demonstrated how he got behind the choking student, wrapped his arms around the student and “burped him kind of.”

Davyon saved an elderly woman from her burning house later that day.

“It was a disabled lady and she was walking out of her house,” Davyon said. “She was on her porch. But I thought, being a good citizen, I would cross and help her get into her truck and leave.”

He said the back of the house was on fire, “but it eventually got to the front of the house.”

The Heimlich maneuver

Davyon said he learned to do the thrust, commonly called the Heimlich maneuver, on YouTube. He said it is a valuable procedure to learn.

“Just in case you’re in the situation I was in, you can know what to do,” he said.

Davyon’s mother LaToya Johnson said she’s not surprised that he behaved the way he did. She said her brother, Wendell Johnson, is an EMT.

“I’m just a proud mom,” she said.