A Chick-fil-A employee in Jonesboro is being credited with saving a 1-year-old girl’s life after performing the Heimlich maneuver when the child began choking on a piece of food last week.

Nykeriea Boone and her daughter, Naomi, had been having lunch at the Turtle Creek Chick-fil-A when the incident occurred. Boone said the two had been playing peek-a-boo when Naomi began choking on a chicken nugget. Despite Boone’s efforts to remain calm and assist her daughter, Naomi quickly became unresponsive and began turning blue.

“I was trying not to panic and stay calm so I could help her,” Boone said. “But as she started turning colors, I began to freak out. It’s like, I didn’t know what to do.”

Chick-fil-A employee Danielle Sturgeon, who had been working at the restaurant for only two months, rushed to help. Recalling the scene, Sturgeon said, “I was standing right over there. I looked and saw a little girl upside down, and I was, like, freaking out.”

Sturgeon, who had learned the Heimlich maneuver from a video years earlier, prayed for guidance before taking action. “The lady said something about the Heimlich maneuver, and I didn’t think — I just picked her up and started doing it. She started foaming at the mouth but then she woke up,” Sturgeon said.

The quick action proved lifesaving. Naomi regained responsiveness, and emergency personnel arrived soon after to provide further care.

The owners of the restaurant, Tyler and Taylor Mitchell, honored Sturgeon for her heroic actions. “Our team let us know what had happened, and they said one of our team members stepped up in an incredible way,” Tyler Mitchell said. Taylor Mitchell added, “Every person who walks into our door matters. Danielle went above and beyond to make an impact that day.”

Nykeriea Boone expressed gratitude for everyone involved, including the Chick-fil-A crew, first responders, and other bystanders. “We really appreciate the Chick-fil-A crew. You guys were awesome that day,” she said.

In the aftermath of the incident, nurses visited the Boone family to provide a CPR lesson. The family is now enrolling in full CPR training and encourages other parents to do the same. Boone underscored the importance of being prepared for emergencies and highlighted resources available through organizations like the American Red Cross, which offers CPR classes in Jonesboro and beyond.

The next in-person CPR class in Jonesboro is scheduled for Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. More information and registration options can be found by entering a ZIP code on the American Red Cross website.