Florida teacher saves boy choking on candy in social studies class

PORT ORANGE, Fla. -- A Florida teacher is being hailed as a hero after performing the Heimlich maneuver on an 11-year-old student in her social studies class.

The teacher, Corey McCormack at Silver Sands Middle School in Port Orange, told The Daytona Beach News-Journal she saw Timothy Monahan stand up last Thursday with his hands around his throat. She quickly turned him around and performed the maneuver, which dislodged a piece of candy lodged in his throat.

Monahan says he remembers getting weak before standing up. Once the candy popped out, he took a breath and high-fived his teacher. He says she told him "nobody dies in my classroom."

His mother Amy Monahan says words can't describe her gratitude. The next day Timothy brought her a gift card and a #1 Teacher teacup.