Camp Pendleton Marine saves infant's life

Marine first on scene, saves infant's life
By Cpl. Jenn Calaway
Camp Pendleton Public Affairs

Courtesy Photo
Sgt. Sergio Zacarias Jr., combat instructor, Alpha Company, Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry, was the first responder on the scene of a baby girl drowning in the San Onofre III Housing Community, June 20. Zacarias took immediate action and assisted in administering CPR, an act which slowly but surely brought the baby back to life. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jenn Calaway)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Baby Nynette Pedroza will turn 14 months old next month thanks to the heroic actions of a Camp Pendleton Marine.

Luckily for Nynette’s mother, who lives in base housing, Sgt. Sergio Zacarias Jr. happened to live next door when her daughter stopped breathing while taking a bath, June 20.

At approximately three in the afternoon, Zacarias, a combat instructor, Alpha Company, Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry was enjoying a regular evening home from work.

“I was getting ready for a soccer game and walked past the window and saw my neighbor screaming help me, help me!” Zacarias said. “I ran downstairs, told my wife to call 911 and went outside. My neighbor was holding her baby up high in the air and didn’t know what to do. I took the baby and she was blue and unconscious. At first, I thought she was choking so I applied pressure to her chest and nothing happened.”
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Marine first on scene, saves infant