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Gibraltar police officer hailed as a hero after saving life of 2-year-old girl

Posted at 10:27 PM, Mar 06, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-08 14:49:59-04

GIBRALTAR, Mich. (WXYZ) — A Gibraltar police officer is being hailed as a hero after quickly springing into action to save a 2-year-old girl who was chocking on a peanut.

The incident happened back on a cool January morning.

Officer Gary Robinson was getting ready to go out on his shift when he answered a 911 call. It was a call he says he’s glad he took.

"The officers we don’t typically answer 911 calls, so I answer it. Gibraltar 911. I just hear screaming, chocking, and I get an address and I don’t know anything else that’s going on," said Officer Robinson

The caller on the other end was Annette Anderson. 2-year-old Skylar's grandmother.

"Seconds seems like hours in a moment like that," said Annette Anderson.

Officer Robinson responded to the home not far from the police. It was a home he’d been to before and knew the people who lived there.

"I’m watching her color change. We’re doing all we can do and do see that it’s horrible," said Anderson.

"It was scary. Right when I walked in I knew this was life threatening," said Robinson.

Anderson saysSkylar ate a peanut and was starting to change color. Officer Robinson knew time was running out.

"I just started doing back thrusts face down and then real hard thrusts on the back between the shoulder blades. I could hear the ambulance showing up and I turned around and ran down the steps and ran out to the ambulance where I was still doing the back thrusts. Right when I got to the back of the ambulance the peanut popped out," said Robinson.

Skylar was taken to the hospital after the terrifying ordeal for observation. The family says they’re happy for officer Robinson's quick response and saving little Skylar's life.

"Thank you. Thank you and God bless you. You are a God send to us," said Anderson.

Officer Robinson was presented with the life saving award for his quick actions that day. He says he was just doing his job.