HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Leaders with Hillsborough County Public Schools will honor a local middle school custodian Tuesday night for his quick action after saving a student’s life in February.
Mohammed Hammad, nicknamed Mr. Moe, is a custodian at Mulrennan Middle School in Valrico who saved a 7th-grade student from choking on his lunch in February, according to a release.
Mr. Moe told the school district he noticed the student slammed his phone down and ran to a nearby garbage can. He said the force of the slam instantly made him realize something was wrong.
“I asked [the student] if he could speak and he shook his head no,” Mr. Moe said in a statement. “He looked extremely panicked.”
Mr. Moe proceeded to perform the Heimlich maneuver on the child and after three attempts, dislodged a chip that was stuck, according to the release.
School officials said this wasn't the first time Mr. Moe saved a student from choking on a chip. Roughly three to four months ago, they said he had done the same for another student.
“He happened to be at the right place at the right time – again…” the district said in a statement.
Hammad worked at Mulrennan Middle for ten years and said that he loved the school he worked for. He said he also has built a rapport with students during their lunch break.
Once he was okay again, the child said the incident was scary and he considered Mr. Moe his hero.
Hammad had been voted Instructional Support Employee of the Year several times, the school board said.