Officer Rescues Choking Baby in Orange: A Heartwarming Story
Cpl. Greggory Cates Commended for Life-Saving Actions in Choking Incident
In a dramatic incident captured on police body camera footage, Cpl. Greggory Cates of the Orange Police Department swiftly intervened to save a seven-month-old baby who was choking.
The emergency unfolded last Monday when a frantic mother called 911, reporting that her daughter was not breathing. Cpl. Cates responded to the Code 3 call and arrived on the scene within minutes, where he encountered a distraught mother running into the street with her child.
"When I got there, the mom was running out to the street because her baby was choking on a hairclip," Cates recounted. "It was pretty intense, the situation."
Upon assessing the emergency, Cates took the baby into his arms and immediately began performing the Heimlich maneuver, delivering six or seven back blows. Following his seventh blow, the baby began to cry, prompting a collective sigh of relief from the parents. In the footage, Cates can be heard soothing the child, saying, "It’s OK."
"It’s a ‘Holy crap’ kind of moment," Cates reflected. "It re-lives in my mind. Seeing the [body cam] video brings it back. I do tear up sometimes. It was a big moment."
Cates received formal recognition for his actions on Tuesday evening during a ceremony where he reunited with the baby and her grateful family. As a father of two young children himself, Cates expressed gratitude for having the opportunity to help in this critical situation.
"Recognition beyond what I deserve – I’m doing my job," he stated humbly.
The baby is now reportedly doing well, with a notable change at home where hair clips have been removed to prevent future incidents.
