According to school officials, a trustee and a cafeteria operating at Natika Public Schools in Natik, Massachusetts, are considered heroes after they rescued an elementary school student who suffocated from lunch.

Superintendent Anna Nolin said the incident took place Tuesday afternoon at Memorial Elementary School.

Mark Plant, the school’s chief custodian, and Emily DeAliveira, a cafeteria worker, quickly took action when they saw the boy choke. They took turns performing the Heimlich maneuver and were able to squeeze the food stuck in the student’s throat.

“I was just acting,” Plant said. “I just remember telling him to breathe and spit, and tried to encourage him to get everything that was pledged.”

“It’s something that’s deep in our consciousness, especially when we walk, making sure every student eats and is safe,” DeAliveira said. “This is our number one priority.”

Memorial Elementary School principal Robin Welch said the quick thinking and actions of Plant and DeAliveira allowed the student to return home Tuesday night.

“They saved lives,” Welch said. “True, we don’t know if the baby would have passed, but we know it’s not because of their actions.”

“I’m just glad he’s okay,” Plant said. “It couldn’t have been better. She started, I finished, and the result is exactly what we hoped for. “

Welch said he spoke to the student’s parents, who told the principal that their son was all right and that he was happy to return to school on Wednesday.