LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A little boy is alive thanks to a Scott County sheriff deputy and a piece of medical equipment he just started to carry.
On Black Friday, almost 2-year-old Mark Manning started to choke on a piece of chocolate and a Christmas ornament.
The minutes felt like hours for parents Joy Lovell and Joshua Manning.
"He swallowed it, he started choking, he lost his air," Joshua Manning said. "I was patting him on the back, pumping his chest."
Mark's parents immediately called 911. Luckily, Deputy Mark West was only a mile and a half away. He was on-duty and stopped at home to have a late Thanksgiving meal with his family.
Just over a month ago, Scott County sheriff deputies were equipped with Life Vac anti-choking devices. West quickly thought of this tool he had on hand.
"His (Mark's) lips were purple. He was purple looking so when I pulled up, dad was trying to do back slaps, just trying to get whatever out," West said.
Within seconds West was able to get Mark breathing again.
"I also feel that had it been any other guy in our department, they would have jumped in action and done the exact same thing. It just so happened that day, I was at the perfect time, perfect place, and got to be the one that got to help, Mark," West said.
Marks's parents described West as their hero and an angel.
"I feel like I owe Deputy West the world right now," Lovell said.
Just a few years earlier, Lovell had lost a child to pneumonia.
She said the thought of almost losing a second child is devastating.
"It would have destroyed us, with me losing a past child to have to go through that again, I couldn't have done it," Lovell said.
A few days after the incident, West stopped by to check on Mark. He came with stuffed animals, blankets, and hats for Mark and his siblings.
"We were just happy he (West) was able to come out and save him, you know in a position where it worked, sometimes you're not able to save children and we were very fortunate for him to save Mark," Lovell said. "For him to come back and check, not a lot of people would have done that. And especially bring him toys this time of year, I mean it lit up my whole family's face."
After a few hours in the hospital, Mark was medically cleared. A full week after the incident, he was happy, healthy, and dancing around his family's home.
"Very grateful, very grateful. Honestly, if they didn't have that equipment, who'd just say that Mark would even be here right now?" Joshua Manning said.
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