Boy Performs Heimlich Maneuver to Save Classmate During Choking Scare at School

Boy Performs Heimlich Maneuver to Save Classmate—9-Year-Old Steps Up in Life-or-Death Moment

Not all heroes wear capes—some rock backpacks and sneakers. In a heart-pounding moment at a North Carolina school, a 9-year-old boy performed the Heimlich maneuver on his classmate, saving him from choking on a granola bar right on the school court.

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The student, Jayceon Branch, stepped into action when he saw his friend, 7-year-old Donye Moore, struggling to breathe. Surprisingly, Jayceon says he learned about life-saving moves by watching videos on YouTube.

How a Granola Bar Nearly Turned Tragic

Boy Performs Heimlich Maneuver to Save Classmate After Quick Thinking

Last week, what started as a regular school day at Raleigh Oak Charter Elementary, took a scary turn on the basketball court. That’s where students were hanging out when Donye Moore suddenly began choking on a granola bar. He bent over, visibly in distress, as the food got lodged in his throat. That’s when Jayceon noticed something was off—and didn’t hesitate for a second. Without waiting for an adult or panicking, he wrapped his arms around his classmate and delivered the Heimlich maneuver just like he saw online.

Jayceon later told WRAL News he learned the skill by watching YouTube. “Because a teacher saw a student choking, and the student came to the teacher and started doing this,” he said, referring to the hand motion for choking. “And then the teacher started doing what I did to Donye.”

It’s one thing to watch something online but another to remember it and apply it under pressure—especially in a moment that could have turned tragic.

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Mother Speaks Out: “I’m Thankful Jayceon Was There”

Donye’s Mom Shares Her Reaction After the Scare

After the incident, Donye Moore’s mother, Aja Moore, spoke about how shocking the moment was—and how grateful she is for Jayceon’s bravery and instincts. “At first, I wasn’t understanding that he had to be given the Heimlich maneuver or anything like that. It was surprising,” she said. But once she learned the full story, her appreciation for what Jayceon did only grew.

 “I’m just thankful his friend was able to demonstrate that on him.” 

Most people wouldn’t expect a kid his age to know exactly what to do in such a dangerous situation. But Jayceon’s quick action shows just how impactful basic emergency knowledge can be—even when it’s picked up through something as simple as a YouTube video.

His decision to act immediately instead of freezing could’ve been the very reason Donye is still safe today.

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What This Incident Can Teach Other Parents and Educators

Jayceon’s actions are a reminder that kids are capable of learning life-saving skills—and more importantly, they can use them when it really counts. In this case, it wasn’t a trained adult or a staff member who stepped in—it was another student.

The hero received a clapout from students, teachers, and other parents at school the following Monday, and he asked Donye to join him as the two walked together in the hallway.