Madera County deputy recounts saving choking 14-month-old baby, man on railroad tracks

MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- A frightening scene unfolded in Madera County last month.

New body-camera video shows a 14-month-old baby choking on her pacifier as her caregivers frantically called for help.

It was Madera County Sheriff's Deputy Ronnie Aguilar who went to the rescue, performing life-saving first aid.

"You could hear almost a little bit of vibration of breathing," Deputy Aguilar said. "And a couple of times, she stopped breathing."

Deputy Aguilar remained calm. He says there was no time to lose, telling Action News that he was determined to save the girl.

"(I) kind of improvised," he said. "I asked for a wooden spoon, and they got me a toy paintbrush."

Deputy Aguilar used that paintbrush to knock the pacifier loose, saving the baby. The body-camera video captures the joyful relief.

The baby was the second person Deputy Aguilar saved this year.

He was on routine patrol a month prior when he responded to a man in his 70s who was on the railroad tracks in Madera County.

Deputy Aguilar walked that man to safety as the Amtrak quickly approached.

"Had he not been there at the moment, had he not taken the time to go find this person, that person would have been deceased also," Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue said.

The Sheriff praised Aguilar and all his deputies, telling Action News they are "awesome" and are always up for the challenge.

"From medical emergencies to despondent persons to general law enforcement, they do so many different things," Sheriff Pogue said. "They fill so many different roles."

Ahead of the holidays, Deputy Aguilar reunited with the baby he saved and her mother.

"I went to the house," Deputy Aguilar said. "When [the mother] opened the door, the baby was following behind her on the floor, so it was kind of nice seeing her."

Deputy Aguilar wants to remind the public to yield to first responders, something he says not all drivers did as he responded to the choking girl.

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