In a dramatic rescue captured on police body cam footage, a Philadelphia sergeant showcased extraordinary heroism when he saved a choking toddler amidst a frantic scene at a local park. The footage, now released to the public, reveals the urgency and bravery of Sgt. Thomas Cain, as he responded to a distress call at a South Philadelphia playground last March.
Arriving swiftly at the scene, Sgt. Cain was met with a crowd of bystanders, their faces etched with panic. Among them, a child was thrust into his arms, struggling for every breath. Without hesitation, Cain began performing back blows in a desperate attempt to unblock the child’s airway.
His voice, calm yet urgent, is heard in the recording, encouraging the small girl, “Come on, baby. Come on.” The situation was dire as the toddler’s condition deteriorated. Her eyes rolled back, and her tongue began to swell, signaling the immediate threat to her life as she ceased breathing.
The sergeant, amidst the chaos, had to quickly identify the child’s parent while simultaneously administering life-saving measures. “There was a ton of people out here, so I was trying to figure out kind of who was mom in that sense,” Cain recounted, all while attempting CPR with unwavering focus and determination.
Her eyes rolled back, her tongue began to swell, and she showed no signs of breathing.
“There was a ton of people out here, so I was trying to figure out kind of who was mom in that sense,” Cain said. “While I’m also trying to do CPR.”
He flipped the toddler over and continued back blows. Asked how many attempts it took, he said, “I would say closer to 30 at least.”
Moments later, the child let out a shallow breath. Cain said as medics arrived. He handed her to the ambulance crew, who began further treatment.
Cain said the moment brought immediate relief.
“Oh, absolutely. And then I was just making sure that she kept breathing,” he said. “There’s still a lot more to do. And that’s when our Philadelphia fire medics came rolling up.”
Police said the girl had been choking on a chip.
When asked about being called a hero, Cain credited his fellow officers.
“I mean, we do it every day. So it’s not just me, but I kind of my officers and stuff for being there,” he said.
Cain added that the biggest challenge was the toddler’s size and performing CPR while standing, with no flat surface nearby.
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