NAPLES, Fla.- A quick-thinking Naples police officer rescued a choking baby Sunday afternoon.

On Sunday at around 2:00 p.m., officers responded to the Old Naples Pub at 255 13th Ave. S., in reference to a choking baby.

The 18-month-old baby, Leo Emmerich, was not alert and it was unknown if the child was breathing. The father was running out of the restaurant with the child in his hands. Officer Gullekson was the first unit to arrive on scene. The distraught father approached Officer Gullekson, asked him for help, and then handed his unresponsive child off to him.

Officer Gullekson reported that the child was limp, and his arms and legs were just hanging. The baby’s eyes were rolling back in his head and he appeared to be trying to breathe, but the breathing was labored and wheezing. Officer Gullekson immediately initiated rescue efforts.

Officer Gullekson first looked in the baby’s mouth and conducted a finger sweep, but did not see any blockage. Officer Gullekson then turned the baby over in his arm and gave the baby a few light blows to his back. The efforts dislodged a portion of food (possibly a French fry) into Officer Gullekson’s hand. The baby’s breathing then became less labored and his eyes were no longer rolling back in his head.

The baby was transported to the North Collier Hospital. At the time of the transport, the child was alert and crying/calling for his mother. The family was visiting from Ohio.