Heroic Detroit Neighbor Saves Choking Child

DETROIT (WWJ) - A southwest Detroit man is being hailed a hero after he saved a neighbor's toddler.

Kevin Traughber told WWJ Newsradio 950's Sandra McNeil he was outside on Trenton Street when he heard people screaming. The little boy, about 2 years old, was choking and turning purple.

Traughber had taken a CPR class when he was 16.

"It's the first time I ever had to use it and I'm 35 now," Traughber said. "So, I was kind of nervous but I didn't want to let the little kid just sit there and die because nobody else was doing anything."

He ran to the child and performed the Heimlich Maneuver. The boy coughed up a screw. He started breathing again and got his color back.

Traughber said it's just sinking in that he saved a child's life.

"It feels good. Hopefully I'll get some good karma from it or something, you know," he said.

The boy's family declined a request for a interview. He was taken to the hospital to be checked out.