Troy Elementary School Custodian Saves Choking Student

TROY (AP) - An elementary school custodian in Troy has saved a fourth grader who was choking on a nacho chip.

Principal Arryn Schneider said Russ Palen acted quickly in the Woodland Elementary School cafeteria Wednesday when a student told him a classmate was choking.

Palen tells the Oakland Press that he was "scared to death" for a moment before going over to 9-year-old OcTave Lawrence of Troy and performing the Heimlich maneuver.

Schneider says Palen saved Lawrence's life and the boy was able to continue the day's classes.

The 55-year-old custodian is a former manufacturing supervisor for an automotive supplier who lost his job seven years ago. He says he was required to take safety classes and get certified each year as a supervisor.

The boy's mother says his family is "forever grateful" to Russ.

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