Heroic LI teacher uses Heimlich to save 7-year-old boy choking on a gummy
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In a remarkable act of quick thinking, a Long Island educator came to the rescue of a choking 7-year-old student by expertly executing the Heimlich maneuver, earning a heartfelt thank you from the grateful child.

A typical snack time in Alessia Hoffman’s second-grade class at the Charles Reinhard Early Childhood Center in Bellmore took a frightening turn on January 6. Young Anderson Forman found himself in distress when an Annie’s Sour Bunnies fruit snack became lodged in his throat, Hoffman and the boy recounted to The Post on Wednesday.

“The situation was truly alarming,” shared Hoffman, 27. “Despite my nerves, I focused on remaining as composed as possible.”

Hoffman realized the boy was in serious trouble when she asked if he was alright, and he was unable to respond.


Alessia Hoffman and Anderson Foreman
Alessia Hoffman, 27, saved Anderson Foreman, 7, from choking on a gummy fruit snack. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post

Hoffman knew the youngster couldn’t breathe when she asked if he was okay and he wasn’t able to speak.

“He shook his head no. He wasn’t able to verbally tell me that, so that was a little alarming,” she said.

“I tried to pat him on the back first to see if that could help. It didn’t, ” she said. “I quickly realized that I had to get down and do the Heimlich maneuver.”

She sprang to action, performing three upward thrusts on Forman’s abdomen.

 “He is small, he’s a child, so I got onto my knees, and within three times, the fruit snack that he ate for a snack came right up,”  said Hoffman.


Anderson Forman
Anderson Forman gave his teacher a necklace and a gift card to Chick-fil-A as a thank you gift for saving his life. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post

The boy — who loves tennis and food, and has a big appetite — was soon breathing again, and was back to his upbeat and “funny” self, said Hoffman.

“He didn’t cry…He was even just smiling right after. That’s just his personality. So he’s really, really impressive,” she said.

It was Hoffman’s first time doing the Heimlich, and she credits annual school trainings for keeping her cool-headed in the moment. 

Forman, who walked away with no injuries, said he was grateful to his teacher.

As a thank-you gesture,  he and his family gave Hoffman a gift card to Chick-fil-A — which she’d previously told the class was her favorite food — and a necklace.

“She’s a big fan of Chick-fil-A,  and she saved my life,” Foreman said, adding he now wants to learn the Heimlich to help others if they’re choking.

“It means you care about them,” he said.

Despite the frightening experience, Forman said he has no problem chowing down on Annie’s Sour Bunnies — though his mom, Ana Forman, says she no longer sends the treat to school with him.

“As a parent, you always hope that when your kid goes to school, they’re in safe hands. What happened really just reinforced what great care our kids are under,” she said, adding she feels deep “gratitude.”

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