The Berkeley County, South Carolina, sheriff's department is honoring one of its heroic members after Deputy W. Kimbro saved the life of an infant who was only 12 days old when she nearly lost her life. The police officer had stopped a vehicle for speeding during a routine patrol on June 11, but when he went to speak with the driver he discovered they were rushing to get their newborn who wasn't breathing some help. It was then that the police officer sprung into action and his quick thinking ended up saving baby girl's life.
Video of the terrifying incident was caught on the officer's body camera and showed Kimbro making his incredible rescue.
In a post published on the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office Facebook page, it was revealed that the incident happened on Wednesday, June 11, during a routine patrol in the Summerville area of Berkeley County. Kimbro had stopped a vehicle for speeding, but upon approaching, "the driver immediately exited the car and exclaimed that the baby in her vehicle had stopped breathing."
The baby's mother told Kimbro that her daughter had stopped breathing after drinking a bottle and needed immediate help.
Fox 13 reported that the girl's mother told police that she had been at home showering when her stepmother alerted her that her 12-day-old daughter was choking on something in her bassinet.
“Her lips are a little blue, I’m worried about her circulation,” the mom can be heard telling Kimbro in video posted to the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office page. The video has since gone viral, having been liked almost 5,000 times.
People reported that the girl's mother, who said the baby's name is Riley, told the officer that her daughter had been drinking from a bottle and then stopped breathing. The family then hit the road to get the girl some help, which is when they ran into Kimbro. "Deputy Kimbro took the baby’s limp and cyanotic body and performed lifesaving first aid," the police department's statement read.
The entire incident was captured on the officer's body camera, where it can be seen that he used life-saving techniques to clear the baby's airway and get her to breathe. First he holds the girl before placing her back on her mother's lap while he massages her heart and checks her pulse.
"Come on baby, cry for me, cry for me … Open those eyes, sweetheart,” he can be heard saying before she quietly let out a sob. “As long as she’s crying like that she’s breathing. I want you to cry. Come on.”
The officer continued to perform the life-saving measure for six minutes until EMTs arrived and took over.
CNN reported that the girl was then rushed to a local hospital for observation, but was later released. Sheriff's spokeswoman Carli R. Drayton later said that "As far as we know, the baby has been doing well."
Because of his heroic actions, Kimbro is being honored with a “Life-Saving Medal.”
"When we wear the uniform and badge, we become what someone needs at that moment," the Berkeley PD post read. "For one Deputy that meant he needed to become the line between life and death for one young child."
"Please join us in congratulating Deputy Kimbro for his gallant actions that prolonged human life," it continued and added that the officer will be awarded the “'Life-Saving Medal' from Sheriff Lewis for his heroic actions that day."
"Well done!" it added.