A Lakewood police sergeant is being credited with saving the life of a 9-year-old girl who was choking Wednesday night at a restaurant.
Sgt. John Fraser and Lt. Chris Lawler were eating dinner at Koto Teriyaki, 5700 100th St. S.W., when Fraser noticed something amiss at another table. At the same time, one of the owners came to the officers and said the girl was choking, Lawler said.
Fraser jumped up and went to the girl’s table. She was holding her throat and had a terrified look on her face, Lawler said.
Fraser performed the Heimlich maneuver on the girl as Lawler called for firefighters. After the fifth thrust, an object came out of the girl’s mouth and she could breathe again.
“It was scary for a few minutes,” Lawler said.
When firefighters arrived, the girl was breathing normally.
“No one in the restaurant knew what to do for this little girl, including the mother,” stated a news release from West Pierce Fire & Rescue. “Thank goodness these officers were in the restaurant and knew exactly what to do to help this little girl.”
West Pierce will recognize Fraser for his actions at an upcoming board meeting.
“This call would have had a completely different result had Sgt. Fraser not been in that restaurant,” West Pierce Fire Capt. Pat Lillie said. “He saved that little girl’s life.”
Stacey Mulick: 253-597-8268 stacey.mulick@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/crime
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