Cape Coral teacher performs Heimlich to save choking second-grader

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

A second-grader at Oasis Elementary North in Cape Coral accidentally swallowed a bottle cap while drinking water during a spelling test, leading his teacher to perform the Heimlich maneuver and save his life.

"So I was taking the spelling test, and when I was going to drink more water, the cap was loose, and I drank it in. The water pushed it down," Theodore Castaneda said.

Theodore said he was scared when he realized he was choking and couldn’t breathe. He ran to his teacher, Jaclyn Medico, who quickly stepped in to help.

"He was still having trouble breathing. So I did the Heimlich, and I was banging on his back. And, you know, the other teacher across the way, she's like, 'It's out, it's out.' Because I didn't see it actually come out of his mouth. So it was out on the floor, and, after it happened, he hugged me. He's like, 'You saved my life,'" Medico said.

Medico, who has been teaching at the school for six years, said she had never experienced anything like this before.

"We were starting our spelling test, where only a couple of questions, and we were about five or six questions in, and all of a sudden, you know, he gets up and comes up to me, and he's like going like this and like, you know, gasping for air," Medico said.

After the incident, Theodore admitted his enthusiasm for spelling has waned.

"Very little," he said when asked how much he likes the subject now.

Theodore’s parents expressed their gratitude for Medico’s training and quick response. Theodore himself has been showing his appreciation daily.

"He's giving me a hug, like, every single day since he's been back. And just, you know, he knows that I have his back," Medico said. "And he'll never forget me, and I won't forget him either."

When asked what message he had for his teacher, Theodore smiled and said, "A big thank you."

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