FWC Officers Revive Baby Who Had Stopped Breathing

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A day on the water could have turned tragic for one South Florida family if not for the actions of two state wildlife employees.

The Florida Fish and Conservation Commission posted on their Facebook page that Investigator Rene Taboas and Officer Roberto Rodriguez were on routine patrol last month when they were flagged down by a frantic woman on a sand bar near Elliot Key.

"All of a sudden I see a woman waving her hand and there's an infant in her hand," said Taboas.

The woman said her 9-month old son, Ryan Escalante, was unresponsive and wouldn't wake up. She immediately handed Ryan to them and they realized he was not breathing. Training and instinct kicked in and men rushed to help.

'When they put the baby in my arms there was no movement, there was no breathing. It was a scary feeling," said Toboas.

"He was not crying, not breathing, his lips were blue and we didn't know what was going on at that point," said Rodriguez.

They immediately performed CPR

"I automatically started giving compressions. The baby responded at like the 10th compression. His eyes opened up. His color began to come back but he was coming in and out of consciousness," said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez and Taboas took Ryan and his father to shore to await paramedics.

"You could say it's part luck or part God's doing, having us there at the right place at the right time," said Rodriguez. "It's very emotional but its well worth it."

Ryan was taken to a hospital. It turns out he had a respiratory infection, along with a lung issue, and that phlegm had blocked his airway. Doctors treated Ryan and he's now back home.

"There's no other feeling better in the world than to save anybody's life. But especially a baby. It really touches home," said Rodriguez.

"It was one of the most scariest situations I've ever been in. But it was humbling and I could say it defined my career. You know we put bad people away and try to do our jobs but being able to save a baby's life. That's an ultimate reward," said Taboas.