Steven G. Schorr speaks with fifth-grader Gabriel Wallace during a lunch break at Steven G. Schorr Elementary School on Feb. 10, 2016. In January, Gabriel saved his friend Kyle Sucaldito from choking on his lunch.
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016 | 3:17 p.m.
Kyle Sucaldito, an 11-year-old student at Schorr Elementary, was eating lunch at the school cafeteria when he suddenly stood up and grabbed his throat.
At first, classmate Gabriel Wallace thought the boy was kidding around. But when the fifth-grader realized Kyle was choking, he rushed over and performed the Heimlich maneuver, dislodging a chunk of scrambled eggs from his throat.
“I thought it was all a joke at first,” Gabriel said. “But then his face started turning blue, and I realized he was actually choking.”
Students and staff today joined school namesake Steven M. Schorr and members of the Clark County Fire Department to honor Gabriel, dubbed a hero for his live-saving actions during the Jan. 27 lunch period.
As thanks, Gabriel received tickets for a private VIP tour of Mandalay Bay’s Shark Reef aquarium for him and five guests.
“When you make a special decision in life, it impacts others,” Schorr said while presenting Gabriel a medal with “HERO” written on the front. “We’re here to honor someone who decided they were going to help a friend. That friend is still here smiling.”
Neither Gabriel’s mother, Heather Wallace, nor school Principal Jacquelin Brown knew how the boy learned the Heimlich maneuver. The school doesn’t teach it, Brown said.
“But I’m glad he does know it,” Heather Wallace said. “For him to do this for somebody, I’m so proud of him.”
Brown, an 18-year principal at Las Vegas elementary schools, said, “I’ve never seen anything like that. I’m very proud.”
Brown said school staff encourage students to “always look out for each other’s best interests. We are family; we do what we need to do to help each other.”
About 150 students and staff on hand for today’s surprise ceremony for Gabriel, an avid skateboarder who moved to the Las Vegas Valley six months ago from Pennsylvania.
After receiving his medal, shaking hands with the firefighters, hugging Schorr, and walking through a wave of high-fives from his classmates, Gabriel sat down to eat lunch with a couple of friends.
“This feels awesome,” he said.
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