Body camera footage reveals an intense moment when two rookie NYPD officers rushed to save a baby from choking in a Queens home. The incident occurred around 4:40 p.m. on October 10, after the family called for help for 10-month-old Makai, who was in the back of a patrol car, still in his pajamas.
Upon arrival, the officers assessed that Makai was “unresponsive due to respiratory obstruction,” according to the police. The video captures the child’s mother handing over her struggling son to an officer, who promptly begins patting Makai on the back until he can breathe again.
Once the blockage was cleared, another officer took over, gently picking up the toddler and rubbing his back, as depicted in the footage.
Makai was transferred onto a stretcher and taken to Elmhurst Hospital Center, where he was reported to be in stable condition.
Asia Rodriguez, the baby’s mother, explained that when she noticed her son was in trouble, she immediately called 911. “He is my life, and I will cherish every second to make sure he is saved,” she shared.
Now that Makai is back home and doing well, Rodriguez expressed her desire to meet the officers who saved him. “If I could meet them and hug them, I would. God bless them,” she said, emphasizing the critical role they played in her son’s recovery.
Both officers, who have been with the NYPD for under two years, have completed required CPR training. Makai’s father, Brandon LaBoy, praised the officers, stating, “It’s just incredible to see what they do with the proper training. You can’t underestimate how good the training they received in that moment. It’s great to see that.”
