Mother of choking victim thanks nameless Bruin hero
Good Samaritan saves life of 4-year-old at Pizza Hut in
Westwood
By Nancy Hsu
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Deborah Clayton never got to thank the UCLA student who saved
her 4-year-old daughter’s life.
The Claytons decided to go out for pizza Friday night after
watching their 6-year-old son Andrew play basketball. They had just
finished eating dinner at the Pizza Hut restaurant on Westwood
Boulevard when Aimee, 4, stuffed an after-dinner mint into her
mouth and headed for the arcade games.
"They were playing at the pinball machine," said Clayton, a 1973
graduate of UCLA who now lives in Westwood. "Suddenly, she ran
over. She couldn’t talk and she was turning blue. I thought she was
going to pass out and die."
In a panic, Deborah Clayton screamed, "My daughter’s choking."
Her husband, Doug, tried several times to administer the Heimlich
maneuver, but was unsuccessful. A student sitting with four or five
other guys got up and came over to help.
"He picked her out of my husband’s arms and hit her on the back
twice," Deborah Clayton said. "The mint popped out. It was just the
most wonderful thing to hear that little cry."
Pizza Hut employees said it was obvious the customers were UCLA
students since they were wearing UCLA sweatshirts and carrying book
bags. When Aimee began choking, the employees offered to call 911,
but the Good Samaritan had already sprung into action.
"It was really scary," said Cyma Abbas, a Pizza Hut manager who
was on the phone taking pizza orders when she saw Aimee choking.
"This child was fine two minutes before and two minutes later, she
was turning blue."
In a rush of relief, neither of the Claytons noticed the
students get up and leave the restaurant, Deborah Clayton said.
"I didn’t get the student’s name, so I wanted to thank him by
putting something in the newspaper," she said. "He unselfishly
saved her life. I just want people to know there are people who do
things without thinking of themselves."
The Claytons called a doctor later that evening and observed
Aimee most of the night. Aside from the shock, Deborah Clayton said
her daughter is fine.
"We never go out (to eat)," Deborah Clayton said. "The way I
look at it, there was a guardian angel there that night."
Students interested in learning CPR and first aid training can
call the UCLA Student Welfare Commission.