Hero cop saves choking child from dramatic dying on facet of motorway in rush-hour visitors
Colleagues praised the heroic detective’s fast thinking and composure in a life-threatening moment, saying his ability to stay calm under pressure was honorable
A dramatic roadside rescue unfolded during rush hour on Wednesday (December 10) morning when an New York Police Department (NYPD) detective saved a choking baby on the side of a busy motorway.
The incident, captured in shocking footage later shared on TikTok, shows Detective First Grade Michael Greaney rushing to assist a panicked father whose infant daughter had suddenly stopped breathing.
Greaney, who works in the office of Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, was driving to work at around 8.45am when he noticed a black BMW racing along the emergency shoulder of the southbound Bronx River Parkway.
Travelling in an unmarked truck, he switched on his lights and pulled over to investigate, according to police.
The driver of the BMW leapt out in distress, telling the detective, “My baby’s choking.”
Greaney reached into the vehicle and lifted the infant, a small girl dressed in a pink onesie.
Standing at the roadside as traffic sped past, he delivered repeated firm taps to her back, attempting to clear her airway.
After a few pounds on the back, the officer flipped the child over to look at their face, and within moments, the baby began to breathe again, police said.
A passing paediatrician who had witnessed the commotion stopped to assess the child and confirmed she was safe and out of danger.
The driver did not seek further medical attention, police said, and the father subsequently informed officers that his daughter was doing well.
Greaney has served with the NYPD for 17 years, having joined the force in 2008. Colleagues praised his fast thinking and composure in a life-threatening moment.
“Detective Greaney’s split-second decision and calm under pressure truly embodies The Greatest Detectives in the World,” Detectives’ Endowment Association President Scott Munro said.
“His quick action didn’t just save a life, it reminded all of us what heroism looks like on the streets of this city.”
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