Nine-Year-Old Boy Saves Sister's Life

A 9-year-old boy in Pasadena was honored Thursday for acting swiftly to save his younger sister's life as she choked on a grape.

Jaequon Santos, who was publicly recognized by the South Pasadena Police Department, called 911 and told emergency dispatchers the address of his family's apartment. His 3-year-old sister had a grape lodged in her throat, and the children's mother was trying to remove the grape.

I had trusted him that he could do it,'' said the children's mother, Jennifer Santos, about calling 911. ``We had a lot of practice with that.''

A Starbucks staffer on his way to work and first responders both attempted to remove the grape from the child's throat but were unsuccessful.

Because of their small size and flexible composition, grapes are difficult to remove in a chocking incident, according to emergency responders and medical personnel.

The child was rushed to the hospital, where the grape was removed, and she has since fully recovered.

Police presented Santos with a remote-control police car Thursday morning. Emergency personnel and the family's neighbor were also recognized.