Body‑camera video shows Philadelphia sergeant saving choking toddler in FDR Park

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Newly released police body camera footage captures the tense moments when a Philadelphia police sergeant rushed to save a choking toddler at FDR Park, working frantically as bystanders looked on in panic.

Sgt. Thomas Cain was called to the Anna Verna Playground in South Philadelphia in March for reports of a child struggling to breathe. As he approached the crowd, someone handed him the toddler.

Cain immediately began striking the child's back in an effort to clear her airway. "Come on, baby. Come on," he said as the girl's condition worsened. Her eyes rolled back, her tongue began to swell, and she showed no signs of breathing.

"There was a ton of people out here, so I was trying to figure out kind of who who was mom in that sense," Cain said. "While I'm also trying to do CPR."

He flipped the toddler over and continued back slaps. Asked how many attempts it took, he said, "I would say closer to 30 at least."

Moments later, the child let out a shallow breath. "She's breathing... but... come on..." Cain said as medics arrived. He handed her to the ambulance crew, who began further treatment.

Cain said the moment brought immediate relief. "Oh, absolutely. And then I was just making sure that she kept breathing," he said. "There's still a lot more to do. And that's when our Philadelphia fire medics came rolling up."

Police said the girl had been choking on a chip. Her family, who speak only Spanish, declined to appear on camera but shared their gratitude.

When asked about being called a hero, Cain credited his fellow officers. "I mean, we do it every day. So it's not just me, but I kind of my officers and stuff for being there," he said.

Cain added that the biggest challenge was the toddler's size and performing CPR while standing, with no flat surface nearby.

The child survived the ordeal.