Billy Carberry receives his award from Wildwood Beach Patrol Captain Ed Schneider. Also pictured, from left, are Our Lady of Calvary School Rev. John Babowitch, Assistant Principal Sheila Picinich and Principal Jeanne Costello. (Courtesy of Ed Schneider)
A junior lifeguard with the Wildwood Beach Patrol is credited with saving the life of a Philadelphia boy – not in the ocean, but in school.
Billy Carberry, 13, an eighth-grader at Our Lady of Calvary School in Northeast Philadelphia, rushed to the aid of another student who was choking during lunchtime on Oct. 23.
Billy noticed the boy was waving his hands in distress and his face was turning red. He knew he was choking and leapt into action, according to a Wildwood news release about the incident.
Billy performed the Heimlich maneuver on the student, who was identified in the release as a pre-kindergartener named Christopher. During the lifesaving technique, a piece of fruit leather dislodged, enabling Christopher to breathe again.
Billy’s knowledge of the Heimlich maneuver comes from his training as a junior lifeguard with the Wildwood Beach Patrol, a program he has participated in for several years as a summer resident of the city.
“I learned a lot about safety and how to help others,” Billy said in the release.
He acknowledged feeling scared himself when Christopher began choking, but was able to maintain his composure during the frightening moment.
“I didn’t want Christopher to be scared,” Billy said.
The incident has drawn praise from teachers and parents alike, who commended Billy’s lifesaving action.
Wildwood Beach Patrol Captain Ed Schneider commended Billy’s heroic efforts by presenting him with an award recognizing his bravery and quick thinking.
“A great deal of credit goes to Junior Lifeguard instructor Jack Rauchut and his team for teaching junior lifeguards how to recognize dangerous situations. Billy is a kid who paid attention and prevented a critical incident,” Schneider said.
