HATFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - A local 10th grader is being hailed as a hero this morning after a school field trip nearly turned into a tragedy. It happened during a trip to Six Flags, where a fun day of roller coasters took a terrifying turn for two friends from Smith Academy.

It was a morning of celebration at smith academy, students and staff gathered not for a typical assembly, but to recognize a moment of extraordinary bravery that happened far from the classroom.

“The moment I realized I needed to do something was when his face turned completely purple, So I stood up, I stood behind him and I gave him the Heimlich maneuver. And he coughed up his food,” said Smith Academy 10th grader Elijah Bai.

Eli’s mom Shari wasn’t surprised when she heard that he sprang into action. Saying that’s just the type of kid he’s always been, “he said that the people that were around or walking by just kept walking. He’s very caring, very helpful, very loving, always hugging and just, you know, you okay, Mom?”

Smith Academy’s Principal Conor Driscoll is also Superintendent of Hatfield Public Schools. He told Western Mass News that Heimlich maneuver Eli learned wasn’t a part of the school’s curriculum, “It’s actually something that Dr. Boyle, who is our French teacher as well as our health teacher and fiber arts teacher, she brought in. She wanted to get students certified in CPR and so now students have the opportunity to do that. I think we’ve clearly seen the impact that it can have.”

Eli’s not ruling out a career in the healthcare field in the future — but luckily for everyone involved, he was able to remember what he learned in his 9th grade health class and help save his friend in his moment of need, “to me, I never really thought I was going to use it because I didn’t think I’d be in a situation where I’d have to save someone, but I am very glad that I learned what I did and I got to save someone and they got to live to see another day.”

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