Austin Smith.
Mississauga's Austin Smith gets a kiss from his mother Michele after receiving an award from Peel Regional Paramedics. In January, Michele was choking and Smith performed CPR to save her life.
Supplied photo
Austin Smith is a hero — ask his mother.
The 13-year-old Erin Mills Middle School student's quick thinking and calm attitude not only saved her life but impressed Peel Regional Paramedics, who awarded Austin with a plaque for his action today at Peel Regional Council chambers.
In the early afternoon of Jan. 2, two paramedics responded to a 9-1-1 call from an Erin Mills home. They were informed that an unconscious female — Austin's mother, Michele Smith — was choking on a piece of meat that was lodged in her throat.
Austin and his 8-year-old brother, who were at home, rushed outside and informed a construction worker, who placed the 9-1-1 call and then attempted to perform the Heimlich maneuver on the mother, but failed.
A petrified Austin, who realized his mother was losing consciousness, decided to take action himself. He lay her on the front porch and began to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). It worked, and the meat was dislodged.
Paramedics who arrived shortly transported the mother to Credit Valley Hospital where she recovered.
“Without the intervention and action by her son, the outcome could have been quite different for Michele,” said Peter Dundas, director of Peel Regional Paramedic Services. “As emergency professionals we know how crucial time is. Every second counts. There's no doubt Austin's action saved his mother's life and for that, we would like to applaud him.”
Recalling the fateful day, the Grade 8 student said he was extremely nervous and anxious. He said he had learned CPR by performing the procedure on a dummy, but little did he know that one day he would have to use his skills on his mother.
“I got so scared when I saw her choking that I couldn't think. All emotions were lost,” Austin said. “It was just through instinct that I performed the CPR.”
His mother said she trusted her son to pull her through.
“I was conscious that he was doing the CPR and I had faith he could do it,” she said. “I was impressed, and also shocked by how calm he was in a situation like that ...”
rpanjwani@mississauga.net